Porto goalkeeper Iker Casillas insists he is not thinking about retirement and even joked he will not call time on his career until at least 12 months after Gianluigi Buffon does.
Casillas has dropped down the pecking order at Porto in the last month as the Portuguese club cannot afford to play the 36-year-old, prompting suggestions he may be forced to retire.
The Real Madrid icon’s current deal is due to expire at the end of the season but Casillas is adamant that retirement is not part of the equation just yet despite his advancing years.
“The end of my career is getting closer all the time,” he told AS. “[But] if Buffon can reach 40, I am going to give myself the challenge of retiring at least a year after him. To have an extra year in my career.”
Casillas will almost certainly have to leave Porto in January to retain any hopes of making the 2018 World Cup with Spain, although he is no longer considered their No.1 goalkeeper.
In the last two Liga NOS campaigns, Casillas has kept at least seven more clean sheets than any other goalkeeper (25).
