New York City FC could be in the market for another huge name from Europe, with a Spanish outlet reporting late last week that the club have made an offer to legendary Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas.
Casillas made over 500 La Liga appearances in 16 years with Real Madrid, but fell out of favor with the club in recent years, enduring a good deal of criticism from both media and fans before leaving Spain for Portuguese side Porto last summer. His tenure in Portugal reportedly hasn’t been entirely happy, either, with the 34-year-old ‘keeper dealing with some recent calls for his job.
The recent criticism has apparently paved the way for a bid from NYCFC, with Spanish newspaper El Economista reporting last week that the club has made a bid for Casillas, whose contract with Porto doesn’t expire until after the 2016-17 season, to move to New York this summer.
Casillas, of course, was a longtime teammate of NYCFC’s David Villa on the Spanish national team, and also appeared with New York defender Andoni Iraola on the international stage. Josh Saunders served as NYCFC’s starting goalkeeper during their expansion season last year, and is presumably set to man the net in 2016, as well.
Still a full international, Casillas has 165 appearances with Spain, and led the country to the 2010 World Cup title and European Championship crowns in 2008 and 2012. A five-time selection to the FIFPro World XI, Casillas won five La Liga titles and three UEFA Champions League trophies with Madrid.
(H/T NYCFC Watch)
