‘Not good enough’ – BBC broadcaster claims £32k/wk player not even fit for bench at Leeds
BBC broadcaster Adam Pope has said that Kiko Casilla is “not good enough” for the Leeds United first-team.
He added that Leeds need to sign a better option as a back-up to Illan Meslier.
Casilla started for Leeds on Sunday and put in a terrible performance as his side crashed out of the FA Cup in a 3-0 defeat to Crawley.
He was directly to blame for one of the goals and should have done better with the opener.
Posting on Twitter after the game, Pope said, “I’ve been consistent in saying that in my humble opinion he is not of good enough quality to push for a 1st team place.
“[Leeds] need a better keeper as back up.”
Can Leeds get rid?
Kiko Casilla was awarded the worst rating (5.7) of any Leeds United player in the game on Sunday. [SofaScore]
It was the same on WhoScored, with Casilla getting a 5.6 rating.
Many Leeds fans thought that the club should have acted more decisively when Casilla was banned for racist abuse last season.
Instead, the club supported him and kept him as the number two choice at the club.
But, if matters off the pitch aren’t enough for Leeds to move him on, what he’s doing on the pitch should be.
If you’re being charitable, you could say the ball bobbled for the second goal but it was a weak shot and no professional keeper should have been beaten by it.
Casilla is one of the highest-paid players at the club, on a reported £32k-a-week, and he’s under contract until 2023.
Getting rid of him won’t be easy – it would involve moving him on for a nominal fee, or for free, and hoping there’s a club that will match those wages.
If they watch the footage from yesterday, we just can’t see that happening.
It means that Leeds are likely going to be saddled with Casilla for a long time to come.
In other Leeds United news, ‘No coincidence’ – Karen Carney makes Leeds claim after shock 3-0 loss v Crawley