Caprile to continue on Leeds bench with Casilla frozen out
It is unlikely that Kiko Casilla will be seen again in a Leeds United squad after Marcelo Bielsa confirmed Elia Caprile will be on the bench for the foreseeable future.
Casilla, 34, was left out of Bielsa’s matchday squad when Leeds lost to West Ham on Monday night, with 19-year-old Caprile being named on the bench instead of the experienced Spaniard.
The Leeds manager confirmed Casilla’s absence was not injury-related and since then, the ex-Real Madrid goalkeeper has posted a cryptic message that suggested he wanted to quit Elland Road.
After that was supposedly taken the wrong way by fans, Casilla hit out at Leeds supporters in a post on the lufcfanzone Instagram page.
Speaking ahead of Leeds’ clash against Chelsea this weekend, Bielsa reiterated that Casilla did not miss the West Ham game because of an injury nor because he was told to name Caprile on the bench due to him playing well for the Under-23s.
However, Bielsa did confirm that Caprile will continue on the bench for the foreseeable future.
When asked if the Italian goalkeeper will be on the bench for an extended run, Bielsa was quoted by LeedsLive as saying: “For some time, I have anticipated this squad because I have received this recommendation.”
Casilla’s made just three first-team appearances for Leeds this season. He’s played just once in the Premier League when Illan Meslier was unavailable against Brighton.
In his other two outings for the Whites, Leeds were knocked out of the Carabao Cup on penalties to League One side Hull, before a humiliating 3-0 defeat to League Two Crawley in the FA Cup.
Casilla has had numerous shockers while playing for Leeds but we don’t think any goalkeeper in recent memory has played as bad as the Spaniard did in the loss to Crawley.
It’s about time the 34-year-old is moved on this year.
He should have gone last year when he was found to have racially abused Jonathan Leko and handed an eight-match ban by the FA.
Bielsa, despite all the good he’s done at Leeds, isn’t perfect and his handling of the Casilla situation is a blot on his otherwise exemplary stint in West Yorkshire.
Handing the Spaniard the captain’s armband against Hull in the Carabao Cup was a kick in the teeth for anyone who’s received racist abuse. It simply should not have happened.
It also shouldn’t have happened because, to put it bluntly, Casilla is a wretched goalkeeper who has no business playing for a club in the Premier League.
According to The Athletic, he earns £35,000-a-week on his contract at Elland Road. He’s not even worth a fraction of that hefty payslip and getting rid of him as soon as possible would be the best decision the club can make.
Casilla’s been found to have been racist, his performances have been woefully unacceptable, he’s been left out of Bielsa’s squad for untold reasons and he’s now started being a nuisance on social media.
Get rid of him, please.
In other Leeds United news, Newcastle have hijacked Leeds’ bid to sign this free agent.