Spanish goalkeeper Kiko Casilla surprised many after he left Real Madrid for Championship side Leeds United last month.
The 32-year-old found playing time very difficult to come by following the arrival of Thibaut Courtois from Chelsea last summer, with Keylor Navas even left to play backup to the Belgian.
Casilla has settled down well at Elland Road, playing in goal in Leeds’ last three league games.
The Spaniard has shipped five goals thus far and has helped the club to a win and a draw, while they lost his second game.
While Casilla wasn’t a regular at Madrid, playing just 43 games in three and half seasons at the Bernabeu, he was a lively figure in the dressing room, and Brazilian left-back Marcelo has revealed that the dressing room banter has since dried up since he left for Leeds.
“So then Kiko Casilla left and I was very close to him. He sat next to me in the dressing room,” the Madrid defender told Esporte Interativo, as reported by AS.
“I’d arrive and there would be Kiko sat there. But now I don’t have anyone next to me. There’s nobody there! On the other side I have Bale but he doesn’t say anything! He only speaks English, so you can imagine what that’s like! I’m like: Hey! Hi! Hello and Goodbye…”
The Madrid dressing room and Marcelo apparently miss Casilla, and the Brazilian will have to pick up some English if he’s to chat with Gareth Bale.
Having spent his whole life in Spain, Casilla’s spoken English will need some polishing, and he’s likely to be closer to compatriots Samu Saiz and Pablo Hernandez more than other Leeds players.
Having signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with the Whites, though, the veteran goalkeeper has enough time to pick up some English, but fans will be more concerned about him helping the team to the English Premier League promotion come May.
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