Gunners ace reveals talks with Real Madrid stalwart about signing on at Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal attacking midfielder Santi Cazorla says he has talked with Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas about the prospect of signing for the Gunners this summer.
The Spain international has only been selected by Carlo Ancelotti for Real Madrid’s cup games this season, after being dropped by Jose Mourinho altogether last season.
After a decade as first choice between the posts at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, suddenly his career appears at a crossroads.
“I’ve told him (Casillas) I would like him to join Arsenal, but so far he has just been curious about my experience in England,” said Cazorla to the Daily Telegraph.
“His situation is very complicated, but he has to make a decision.
“Lots of clubs want him, including Arsenal, but I think that it would be very difficult to leave Real Madrid because of what the club represents. He knows what he has [at Madrid] and what he could find at another club.”
The news may not go down superbly with Cazorla’s current club colleague Wojciech Szczesny, who was quoted as saying a few weeks ago that he would like to stay with the Gunners for life.
“If they give me a contract to the end of my career, I’d sign it without any hesitation,” Szczesny told Polish newspaper Przeglad Sportowy in an interview translated by Sky Sports.
“I feel attached to the club and the coach who has given me a chance.
“There are not many who would do that but I must have been good. I see the future here.
“I’ll play at Arsenal as long as am wanted here. I am not afraid to fight for number one with anyone: Fabianski or Casillas.
“I hope I won’t make the boss think, ‘Wojciech’s not number one’. It’s all in my hands. I am in the best form of my life.”