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Borussia Dortmund enquire over availability of Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas following Spanish captain's demotion - reports

Casillas is yet to play this season and reports in Spain have claimed that the Champions League runners-up have enquired over is availability

Jack de Menezes
Friday 13 September 2013 16:57 BST
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Iker Casillas
Iker Casillas

Champions League runners-up Borussia Dortmund are reported to be interested in offering Real Madrid goalkeeper and Spanish national captain Iker Casillas a way out of the club after falling behind Diego Lopez in the Los Merengues pecking order.

Casillas had hoped to be reinstated as Real’s number one with the arrival of new boss Carlo Ancelotti, having fallen out with Jose Mourinho during the famous Real Madrid dressing room split. But it seems Ancelotti is happy to continue with the Argentine, with Casillas yet to feature this season.

Current assistant coach Zinedine Zidane has spoken of his desire to sit down and speak with the goalkeeper, claiming: “I don't believe Casillas will leave the club but it is better to have these conversations face to face”.

However, Spanish reports are claiming that the Bundesliga club have already have initial contact enquiring about the availability of Casillas, despite current shot-stopper Roman Weidenfeller having signed a new three-year contract in May this year.

Casillas is a year younger than Weidenfeller at 32, and would bring an unrivalled wealth of experience to the side, having earned 150 caps for Spain and leading them to World Cup and back-to-back European Championship success in recent years.

Arsenal were linked with a move for the Spaniard until they signed Italy international Emiliano Viviano on transfer deadline day, while Manchester City are also said to be keeping an eye on the situation.

Barcelona president Sandro Rosell moved to dismiss rumours that the Catalan club could offer a way out for one of their fiercest rivals over the past decade and more, saying he couldn’t imagine the Spaniard at the Nou Camp in the same way he couldn’t imagine Xavi at the Santiago Bernebeu.

Casillas is believed to be keen to leave the club in search of first-team football, although his emotional bond with the club will prove any move tough to come by.

However, Casillas is determined to hold on to his national shirt, and with competition coming from Barcelona’s Victor Valdes, Liverpool’s Pepe Reina – who is currently on-loan with Napoli – and the rapidly emerging Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea, Casillas must be playing regularly to warrant Vicente Del Bosque’s selection of the 32-year-old as his number one.

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