Casillas: I'll stay at Madrid until my contract ends

By Myfanwy Garman

Mar 3, 2014 8:28:00 PM

Despite not being first choice in La Liga, the goalkeeper claims he will continue his career at the club in order to help them continue winning titles

Iker Casillas would like to finish his career at Real Madrid but has admitted that his contract may not be renewed by the capital club.

Casillas features only in Copa del Rey and Champions League games for the Blancos, with Diego Lopez filling in between the sticks in La Liga for Carlo Ancelotti’s first team.

Despite having fallen out of favour somewhat in the last 12 months, the Madrid skipper believes he can play for at least another eight years if he takes care of himself.

"I can play up to 40," Casillas, 32, told Melody FM. "If a goalkeeper is careful they can get to that age now, if you take care.

"I wish I could play at Madrid until I’m 40, but there will be a moment where it isn’t possible. When I finish my contract it’ll raise the question of whether I stay at Madrid.

"I want to keep winning titles. It’s wonderful to have the opportunity to win trophies and then go and enjoy it with the fans.

"Often I think about what I’ll do when I retire. I would like to remain connected to the world of football, to my club if they need my help."

The goalkeeper believes that luck has played a big part in his success at the Santiago Bernabeu and thinks had first choice shot-stopper Bodo Illgner not got injured, he may not have had the opportunity to make his mark in the XI.

"I think luck is a bit of the story we like to hide," he added. "Remember, I made by debut against Athletic Bilbao and things did not go quite right, so I went back to the B team.

"Then Bodo Illgner got injured and I came back. There are moments like in the World Cup in Korea and Japan that you think can never happen but they do happen. I would never want anything to happen to a team-mate but I jumped at the opportunity.

"You try to fight and struggle and you aspire to want more. I am very ambitious and I always want to play, but with respect for my team-mates." --------------- goal.com