Iker Casillas' standing with Real Madrid was put into question this weekend when coach Jose Mourinho benched him. The situation, however, may even be more severe after rumors circulated about his potential replacement.
Spanish keeper David De Gea is being rumored as a possible purchase for Los Merengues from his current club Manchester United. Sir Alex Ferguson snatched up the young keeper from Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2011 to be Manchester's new number one keeper but De Gea has had a great deal of difficulty performing in the league. This season, Ferguson took away his status and has been having him alternating with keeper Anders Lindegaard.
The idea of De Gea moving to Real Madrid is further supported when one realizes this manager Jorge Mendes is the same manager of Madrid manager Jose Mourinho. Mourinho is obviously looking for a new number one keeper after he benched Casillas. Since Mendes represents both, he may direct communication with Mouriho and De Gea and could build teh bridge between the two sides. Casillas has let in some erratic goals for Madrid, but he has widely been considered untouchable for Madrid fans and Spaniards at large for his ability to captain the Spanish national team to a World Cup and back-to-back Euro Cups. He is 31-years-old however and his form has dipped a bit. Madrid knows that finding a replacement is imminent and De Gea might be the perfect antidote to that problem. At age 22, he still has his best years ahead of him and could be mentored by Casillas while he takes over Madrid's net and the Spanish national team's goal in future years.
According to Inside Futbol, Madrid has shown interest in Borussia Dortmund keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen as the heir to Casillas.