Championship table-toppers Leeds United sealed the shock signing of Spanish shot-stopper Kiko Casilla from Real Madrid last week.
Speaking in terms of trophies and prestige, Leeds United arguably have the best goalkeeper in the Championship in Kiko Casilla.
A stunning signing from Real Madrid last week, the 32-year-old Spaniard arrives at Elland Road with Marcelo Bielsa’s side top of the Championship and hoping for a long-awaited return to the Premier League.
Casilla, then, looks like the sort of signing that could help make dreams come true in West Yorkshire.
But, speaking to Football League World, former Leeds captain Stephen Warnock has warned the former Espanyol stopper that swapping the top of La Liga for the second tier of English football could bring a unique set of challenges.
“He’s one of those where pedigree is good, the club he’s coming in from is very good,” said the former England left-back.
“He’s going to have to be big, he’s going to have to be physical, he’s going to get knocked around from corners and things.”
Warnock makes an interesting point. Goalkeepers playing in Spain’s top tier rarely have to contend with aerial bombardment, relentless set pieces, swirling winds and driving rain.
You just have to look back at David de Gea’s early struggles at Manchester United to remind yourself that an adaptation period can be particularly testing.
So maybe this is why Bielsa was reluctant to throw Casilla straight into the deep end against Stoke City on Saturday. The veteran gloves man will be a fine signing, but he needs to be fully aware of the problems that could come his way.
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