Goalkeeper has proved a problem position for City this season. Manager Manuel Pellegrini began the campaign with Joe Hart, but was left dissatisfied with the England number one's performances and even stated publicly that the player would have to improve. Hart played the first nine games in the Premier League, as well as the opening three fixtures of the club’s Champions League campaign (conceding 15 goals in his 12 appearances), but October’s Capital One Cup tie against Newcastle United saw Pellegrini opt for a change in goal. Since then, Romanian Costel Pantilimon has been first choice, starting the last six games and conceding just three goals.
Against this backdrop, the Manchester City boss has asked the club to sign a keeper for next season, providing a list of targets – with Casillas his preferred choice. He knows the Spain international from his season in charge of Real Madrid in 2009-10 and believes that he would be integral to his team.
Casillas will wait until the season ends. He does not intend to leave the Bernabéu in the January transfer window, but if his situation does not change once this campaign is over he will seek a fresh start. He has always been a fan of the Premier League. He was tempted by a move to Manchester United in 2005 when contract talks with Real reached an impasse, before finally resolving his differences with the club and renewing his deal until 2017. Working in City’s favour is the presence at the Etihad of Pellegrini, Álvaro Negredo, Jesús Navas, Javi García and David Silva, friends of the goalkeeper.
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