Arsenal have been put on alert after goalkeeper Iker Casillas suggested he could leave Real Madrid if he is unable to force his way back into the team, according to the Independent. The 32-year-old found himself displaced by Diego Lopez at the Bernabeu last season under the reign of Jose Mourinho, though it was widely expected he would retain his place once the Special One returned to Chelsea. However, that has not been the case with his successor Carlo Ancelotti also preferring Lopez with Casillas yet to make a single appearance in La Liga this term. And the Spain captain, who has been at Madrid his entire career, has now hinted he could quit the club after growing frustrated by his spell on the sidelines. He is reported to have told local media in Madrid:
"Players go through moments when if you are not playing a part you think about making some sort of decision. "I have been here since I was a small boy but the day will come when maybe a decision will have to be made. "I have decided I want to be part of this squad for a long time but if the situation doesn't change in three months and you ask me the same question perhaps I will answer that I am planning to leave."
Casillas, while he has seemingly been deemed surplus to requirements at club level, has remained an integral cog in Vicente del Bosque's Spain side, playing in the last World Cup qualifier against Georgia. However, with Barcelona's Victor Valdes breathing down his neck and Manchester United's David De Gea always improving, the pressure is on the veteran shot-stopper, who knows he must be playing regular first team football in a World Cup year. Arsenal have been consistently linked with a move for Casillas with question marks hanging over their No.1 Wojciech Szczesny, who despite enjoying a good start to the season so far, was too inconsistent in the last campaign. Yesterday, the London club again reiterated they are in a position to spend, having smashed their club record fee on signing Madrid's Mesut Ozil over the summer. And they could be about to return to the Spanish champions for yet another of their stars. "We will also look to buy proven quality," said Arsene Wenger.