The 2018 MLS season is roughly one month and a half away. And while several teams have managed to strengthen their sides, we have seen some moves worth highlighting.
Montreal Impact just signed a Designated Player in Saphir Taider. Gyasi Zardes and Kei Kamara were swapped for each other. And Atlanta United bolstered their midfield when they acquired Darlington Nagbe and Ezequiel Barco. However, there is one player that has not arrived in the MLS yet. One that many fans are waiting to make the much-anticipated jump to Europe.
It’s not Cristiano Ronaldo or Zlatan Ibrahimovic we are talking about. We are talking about Iker Casillas, the former Real Madrid goalkeeper who is currently playing for FC Porto now.
Casillas is an absolute legend in world soccer. He won everything he could have with Real Madrid and also won the 2010 FIFA World Cup playing with Spain. However, he left Los Blancos and exited through the back door. He joined Porto but lost his starting spot with the arrival of Sergio Conceicao as the head coach. And considering that situation is not going to change anytime soon, he should move elsewhere.
Several teams all over Europe could acquire him. Casillas is good enough to play in LaLiga, the Ligue 1 or even the Premier League on a lower-level team. But he is not likely to continue in Europe anytime soon. The former Real Madrid star does not have a lot left on his career, and it seems a move to the MLS would be the best way to end a heralded career.
Andrea Pirlo did it. David Villa and Bastian Schweinsteiger are also doing it. Why couldn’t Casillas be the next in line? After all, we are talking about a former World Cup winner. Someone who won five Liga and three Champions League titles with Real Madrid. Overall, Casillas lifted 13 titles through his career. And if chasing titles is not what he wants, then a move to the MLS should be coming next. It just makes too much sense not to happen.
He would automatically arrive as an undisputed star. But his presence would also give the league a sense of importance all over the world. Every year, more and more quality players are playing stateside, and Casillas would only increase that list. Not to mention he is not even playing for FC Porto, so he could use the extra playing time.
It remains to be seen whether a team has made an approach or not. But Casillas should stop wasting time and complete his MLS switch as soon as possible. Him playing on American soil just makes too much sense to keep dragging it any longer.