Reports have emerged claiming that Real Madrid has intentions of spending 25 million pounds this summer to buy goaltender Joe Hart from Manchester City.
The report is rather alarming and surprising considering the fact that Madrid has a solid tandem in Iker Casillas and Diego Lopez, but it seems that neither is in Coach Carlo Ancelotti's future plans.
According to the Daily Star, "Current Real No. 1 Diego Lopez has not convinced boss Carlo Ancelotti he is the long-term successor to Casillas and is also a target of Italian giants AC Milan."
The report also notes that current captain Casillas could be on his way out as part of the exchange for Hart. Casillas has not performed in a single Spanish League match this season but has been formidable for Los Blancos when he has been called upon in the Champions League and Copa del Rey.
At age 32, Casillas still has a few years left in him to be Madrid's top keeper and the choice to move him, especially considering his recent form, is shocking to say the least.
What is more shocking is that Madrid is looking to pick up a keeper known for his arrogance and inconsistency over the last few years. While Hart has toned down his arrogance under Manchester City coach Manuel Pellegrini and has improved his form, there are still questions about his consistency. Can he step up and be the man with all the pressure related to Real Madrid? Many players have crumbled under said pressure, including Gareth Bale who struggled to stay health in his first few months with the club. That he is now a hero alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema has a lot to say about his elite talent.
But is Hart an elite talent? At 26, he still has as much as a decade of playing time left, but he has not proven since 2011 that he is still a top shot blocker. In 21 starts for City in the Premier League he has managed nine clean sheets and has been the victim of his own mistakes. He was temporarily benched and relegated to being the backup in City for a few weeks; that he has regained the position says more about the poor play of Costel Pantimilon than it does about Hart's own greatness. If City had a better goalkeeper as its backup, then it is possible that Hart would still be riding the pine for the remainder of the season.
Madrid's defense has improved this season under Ancelotti. But as showcased at times during the Clasico, there is still a lot of work and the team relies heavily on its keepers to make big saves in tight spots. Lopez has been unable to make big saves in big matches this year, as evidenced by his mediocre performances against Atletico Madrid and Barcelona in 2013-14. Casillas, however, has been up to the challenge and has shown himself to be terrific against such competition as Juventus and Schalke 04.
The only way that this move makes sense is if Casillas remains and Hart is brought in to be his understudy for a year or two. But why pay a premium rate for starting keeper, England's starting keeper that is, to have him be the backup?Madrid would do better to find a younger keeper and make him Casillas' apprentice.
Is Joe Hart the correct successor for Iker Casillas or is this simply a marketing stunt by Real Madrid?
- Contribute to this Story:
- Send us a tip
- Send us a photo or video
- Suggest a correction
