Kiko Casilla was Leeds United’s first January signing.
Kiko Casilla has admitted to Marca that life at Leeds United represented the only appealing offer he has received in quite a while.
The 32-year-old became Leeds’ first January signing last week after the West Yorkshire club signed him from Real Madrid.
Casilla, a Spain international, was Real’s third-choice keeper this season following their acquisition of Thibaut Courtois last summer, and consequently hadn’t kicked a ball for the European giants since last May.
Asked by Marca whether his situation at the Bernabeu was comfortable, he said: “Not comfortable, no. There was a point after the signing of Thibaut in the summer where my intention was to leave, but we didn’t understand each other.
“I decided to stay, knowing that hard months were coming because I was the third goalkeeper and at 32 it’s not to everyone’s taste.
“I had to keep working, training, being a part of the group and remaining positive. I knew it would be a difficult year or half a year. In the summer there were options, but nothing went as I wanted it to and nothing appealed to me.”
The implication here is that Casilla fancied a spell at Leeds more than any offer he received last summer and fans of the Elland Road club will be brimming with pride.
But it can be no surprise. The chance to work and play under a coach of Marcelo Bielsa’s talents is a huge carrot and Casilla will know all about the Argentine mastermind, following his distinguished career at Athletic Bilbao.
The former Espanyol goalie won 10 major titles in the Spanish capital, including three Champions League crowns, though he only managed a combined five European appearances during those successful campaigns.
Leeds visit Rotherham United on Saturday and time will tell whether Bielsa drops Bailey Peacock-Farrell for Casilla, who made his Under-23 debut in the win over Southampton this week.
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