Real Madrid Transfer News: Latest on Iker Casillas Exit and David De Gea Rumours

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has moved to placate the volatile air that has accompanied the departure of legendary goalkeeper Iker Casillas to Porto.   

The iconic Los Blancos stopper said farewell in a press conference on Sunday, but he cut a lone and clearly distressed figure before the cameras. As such, a new event was set up by the president on Monday, during which Casillas was accompanied by Perez to say goodbye.

As noted by Nicholas Rigg of AS, the Real Madrid president sought to quash speculation that Casillas had been forced out of the Spanish capital:

The parents of the Spaniard, who won a whopping 17 major trophies during his time at the Santiago Bernabeu, had claimed Perez played a key role in instigating Casillas’ departure in an interview with El Mundo (h/t SkySports.com).

Andres Kudacki/Associated Press

Madrid received more criticism in the wake of the goalkeeper’s initial farewell, with no club directors present to accompany an emotional Casillas, as he recited a prepared statement. Asked about Sunday’s debacle and the subsequent critics, Perez tried to explain the situation, per Rigg:

Casillas, present at the event on Monday, admitted that despite leaving the club to go and join Porto, he will always be a supporter, per Rigg:

Now, a matter on Los Blancos’ agenda this summer will be replacing the man who has been stationed between the sticks at the Bernabeu for so long. Perez was asked about the prospect of signing Manchester United’s goalkeeper David De Gea.

While the president didn’t hold back in his assessment of the player, he didn't give much away, per Rigg:

The latest reports on De Gea suggest that Real need to get a move on if they are to secure a deal for the Spanish stopper this summer.

According to the Sun (h/t Ryan Rosenblatt of Eurosport), United want the transfer finalised before they jet out on their pre-season tour on Monday, otherwise, they will rebuff any further offers for their prized asset. While it would mean De Gea stays at Old Trafford for another season, Real could potentially sign him on a pre-contract for free in 2016.

Jon Super/Associated Press

Sports journalist Rafael Hernandez thinks that Los Blancos’ treatment of Casillas could make De Gea think twice about any potential transfer to the Spanish capital:

To see Casillas, a man who has always represented Real with unerring class, jeered last season was a little unsettling. Hopefully he’ll be remembered fondly; as we can see here courtesy of Sportskeeda, the goalkeeper posed for photographs with all of the silverware he had won during his time as a Los Blancos player:

But the manner in which this departure has been handled has clearly left a sour taste in the mouths of many. Indeed, although large sections of the crowd turned against their goalkeeper last season, the focus of their angst has now seemingly shifted to Perez, per Rigg:

Although it was admirable of Real’s president to give Casillas a more appropriate farewell, the event did feel a little awkward and forced. Sadly, the lasting memory of the legendary goalkeeper for a lot of Madridistas will be the isolated, teary figure the Spaniard cut during what’ll be recounted as an infamous press conference for years to come.