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| Juande Ramos is hoping to persuade the Tottenham board to spend €40m in order to prise Iker Casillas away from Real Madrid, according to an outlandish report in EL Mundo. The north London have been linked with several star names since the Spaniard took over as head coach last month, but few of the stories have been as far fetched as this. While claiming that the new Spurs boss is happy with Paul Robinson, El Mundo believe that Ramos wants to begin his revolution at the club by bringing in a world class keeper. After vowing not to poach any players from his former club Sevilla last week, the new White Hart Lane supremo has drawn up a list of la Primera's best. At the head of that list is Casillas and El Mundo have used an old quote from the Spanish national team keeper, where he claims to fancy playing in England, to back up their story. In other interviews, the Madrid custodian has stated that he wants to stay at the Bernabéu for his entire career and even a mega offer is unlikely to see los Merengues tempted to let him go. According to the report, Ramos believes that bringing in a world class keeper like Chelsea did with Petr Cech and Juve did with Gianluigi Buffon, is the key to building a successful side. It appears to the spending power of Premiership clubs that has led the reporters to believe that Spurs will break the bank to land their man as they cite Sunderland's €12m purchase of Craig Gordon as an example of the cash available in England. As if signing Casillas was not enough, El Mundo then round off by linking Tottenham to a move for Barça midfielder Xavi Hernández and Valencia striker David Villa. While the English press have been stating that Spurs are after more modest prey, the Spanish media believe that Ramos is going to go for the big guns in his attempt to lift the club into the Champions League. |
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| In other interviews, the Madrid custodian has stated that he wants to stay at the Bernabéu for his entire career and even a mega offer is unlikely to see los Merengues tempted to let him go. |
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| Iker Casillas has declared himself pleased enough by the (alleged) interest of Tottenham Hotspur but, needless to say, has opted to say thanks but no thanks to his London suitors... Speaking for the Spanish international side's training base, Iker Casillas has broken his silence over the alleged interest of Premiership outfit Tottenham Hotspur. The Real Madrid number one told the media, "It's important to hear news like this, as things of this nature that are published let us players know that we're doing well," he began. "But what is clear is that I will fulfill my contract. I've been here for eight years, and it would be very difficult to me. "How am I going to leave if I have my family, my friends and my team here in Madrid?" Casillas, a product of the Bernabeu youth system, is under contract until 2011, by which time he'll be 30 years old. For now, though, he's happy where he is. "I don't like saying every day that I'm with Madrid," he insisted, brushing aside suggestions of a 40 million euro offer from Juande Ramos' Spurs. At the moment, Jerzy Dudek serves as understudy to Casillas for the club side, while Pepe Reina does so for Spain. |