With the possible exception of Raul, ask anyone who they feel best represents Real Madrid on and off of the field of play and Iker Casillas’ name will almost certainly be the one that is mentioned.
Now 33, Casillas has been at the very top with Real Madrid since making his La Liga bow in 1999 aged just 18.
His affiliation with the club stretches far beyond that of course, Casillas having joined Madrid’s ‘La Fabrica’ academy at the age of nine.
For one who has woven such a rich tapestry throughout the recent history of Los Blancos, it makes his recent treatment at the hands of the locals and certain sections of the club quite unpalatable.
‘San Iker’, or Saint Iker if you prefer, might well be on a slow, but inevitable descent from the lofty heights of a Spanish World Cup win in 2010, and there may well have been a few high-profile mistakes made and which have been magnified in all of their 1080p high-definition glory.
But what of the innumerable times captain Casillas has saved his side from defeat as a starting point to any counter argument? Such excellence cannot just be swept aside because it suits certain factions, club or otherwise, to do so.
It’s as if Casillas is still having to carry the can for all of Madrid’s failings, which is grossly unfair.
Furthermore, when you break it down, the man from Mostoles actually fares incredibly well among his contemporaries.
Squawka.com notes a claim success rate of 95 per cent and 2.48 average saves per game. Compare that to Barcelona’s Claudio Bravo with 89 per cent claim success and 1.61 average saves per game.
La Liga connoisseurs speak in reverential tones when alluding to Bravo’s performances this term, yet the stats back up that Casillas is better than the Chilean in a number of areas.
Talk of moving Real’s number one to one side in order to bring in David De Gea should also be treated with caution.
The Manchester United stopper also finds himself in Casillas’ slipstream when it comes to the various facets of the goalkeeping trade. De Gea’s numbers simply can’t compare at this stage
Given that, with respect, Madrid have been enjoying a far better season than the Red Devils, you’d have to question the decision-makers at the Santiago Bernabeu if they are simply willing to dispense with Casillas’ services.
It’s obvious that, when things aren’t going according to plan, invariably there will be a scapegoat, normally the manager.
Carlo Ancelotti is unlikely to escape this campaign unscathed, with Florentino Perez preparing to wield the axe, but the Italian at least noted Casillas’ worth to the team during this vital period, telling Rob Train of ESPN: “I like to keep [backup] Keylor [Navas] motivated from time to time, but at the moment Casillas is playing well. We have conceded a lot of goals but not because of him. I have faith in him and Iker will play.”
Any noises suggesting a reduced tenure between the sticks for Casillas certainly haven’t been made by Ancelotti or the dressing room, so club mischief-makers and diehard Madridistas should be careful what they wish for.
You don’t know what you’ve got until you lose it.
The writer is a freelance journalist and Spanish football expert
