Spain No 1 has been closely tracked by Arsenal and City after being dropped by Real.
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Out-of-favour Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas has denied making an ultimatum to the Spanish giants about his future at the Santiago Bernabeu, according to reports on SkySports.com.
Speculation about the highly-rated Spain international has been rife ever since Casillas was first dropped by previous los Blancos head coach Jose Mourinho midway through the last campaign, with compatriot and backup Diego Lopez coming in to take the shot stopper’s place in goal.
However, it had been assumed by many that following the self-styled ‘Special One’s’ departure at the end of the previous season, Casillas would be immediately restored as the club’s No 1, with Lopez returning to warm the substitutes’ bench in the process.
New manager Carlo Ancelotti then caused great surprise all round Spain though by instead opting to retain Lopez as his first-choice keeper ahead of the 32-year-old, although Casillas has been recalled to start the club’s Champions League contests.
And that led the La Roja skipper to recently express his unhappiness at the situation, saying: “I have been here since I was a small boy but the day will come when maybe a decision will have to be made.
“I have decided I want to be part of this squad for a long time but if the situation doesn’t change in three months and you ask me the same question, perhaps I will answer that I am planning to leave.”
But after playing in Madrid’s 2-1 home win over Juventus in Europe’s premier club competition on Wednesday night, Casillas denied that he had issued a play-me-or-sell-me ultimatum to his employers, saying: “When you talk, you talk. My comments weren’t meant to offend anyone.
“I don’t want to give anyone an ultimatum. I’m getting used to seeing the name Iker Casillas in the media every day.”