Real Madrid want the exit of Iker Casillas to Porto to be the final step before signing David de Gea. Madrid believe they have done everything necessary to pave the way for the Toledo-born shot stopper to arrive sooner rather than later. The biggest obstacle that now stands in the club’s way is Louis van Gaal, who insists on keeping hold of the Spaniard unless the €49 million asking price is met (and in linking his depature with the arrival of Sergio Ramos). With this in mind, Madrid are waiting for De Gea himself to move the negotiations forward with the Premier League club.
The former Atlético Madrid man has been blunt in communicating his desire to leave. At the end of last season he made it clear that he wanted to return to the Spanish capital in rejecting a bumper new contract offer (he is out of contract next summer). And after negotiations between the player and United were unsuccessful in June, the goalkeeper told Van Gaal about his desire to leave Old Trafford. That came on July 6, when he had to return to United to start pre-season training. The pressure from the goalkeeper has so far been unsuccessful and Madrid, while still trying to persuade United, want De Gea to take things a step further.
At the Bernabéu they feel they have already done their part by selling Casillas to Porto. Although it was not a prerequisite for signing, De Gea told Madrid that he preferred not to be at the club until Iker’s future had been resolved, to avoid any controversy ahead of Euro 2016.