Casillas: Higuain will stay at Real

Posted Saturday, May 19, 2012 by ESPN

Real Madrid's Iker Casillas does not believe team-mate Gonzalo Higuain will leave the club in the summer.

Scoring 22 goals in 34 La Liga appearances this season, it is unsurprising Higuain has attracted interest from other European clubs including Italian champions Juventus and the cash-rich French side Paris Saint-Germain. Despite his impressive goal tally, fellow striker Karim Benzema is Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho's preferred starter upfront, prompting rumours that Higuain may agree to leave the Spanish champions in the summer.

Club captain Casillas considers the Argentinean to be one of the best forwards in the world and the goalkeeper remains convinced that Higuain will still be his team-mate at the start of next season.

"He is a crucial player for us and one of the top five strikers in the world, no doubt, we are convinced that he will stay. He is happy here, but his future belongs to him," he said to AS.

Nonetheless, the Spaniard realizes that a club like PSG could meet the striker's release clause and leave Real helpless to prevent a transfer should it be Higuain's desire, but Casillas hopes his squad-mate realizes that his contributions are appreciated by Los Blancos.

"Jose Mourinho has said that if he was to leave, his release clause would have to be met. If that happens, there is nothing that we can do," he stated.

"He is a crucial piece in this team and we want him to stay."