Leeds United transfer involving ex-Real Madrid man was a disaster: View | OneFootball

As Leeds United chased promotion under Marcelo Bielsa during the 2018/19 season, they seemingly pulled off a major coup in the January transfer window when they announced the signing of Spanish international goalkeeper Kiko Casilla from Real Madrid.

Casilla, who was part of a Real Madrid side that had won three Champions Leagues, wasn't first choice in the Spanish capital, but he had still played 43 games for Los Blancos between 2015 and 2019.

For a Championship side to announce the signing of someone of his calibre, it signalled a statement of intent that Leeds weren't messing about under Bielsa.

The club had youngster Bailey Peacock-Farrell in goal for the first-half of the season, and Bielsa wanted to strengthen in that department if the club were to win promotion.

However, the move for the Spanish international didn't quite work out as intended.

Kiko Casilla's time at Leeds United

After joining the club in the middle of the January transfer window, Casilla made his debut shortly after in a Yorkshire derby against Rotherham United. Leeds won 2-1, and it was a decent start to life in the Championship for the Spaniard.

His club had been flying high, and looked on course to win automatic promotion prior to his arrival, but Leeds started to falter with Casilla in goal, and losses against Norwich and QPR meant that teams around them gained ground on them.

The Spaniard suffered a further blow in March when he was sent off in a 1-0 loss against Sheffield United, which meant the Blades leapfrogged Leeds, and replaced them in the automatic promotion places.

Leeds would eventually finish third in the Championship table, and were defeated over two legs by Derby County in the play-off semi-final, meaning they missed out on promotion to the Premier League in Casilla's first season.

However, despite a successful season on the pitch for Leeds during the 2019/20 season, where they won the league, it proved a disastrous one for Casilla.

The Spaniard was found guilty of racially abusing Charlton Athletic's Jonathan Leko during a league game in September, and he was subsequently banned for eight games by the FA after being found guilty in February.

With the Covid-19 pandemic putting football on hold in March, he'd play just once more for Leeds during the 2019/20 season as they lifted the Championship title.

After promotion to the Premier League, Leeds moved to sign young French goalkeeper Illan Meslier, and Casilla was demoted to second choice.

The ex-Real Madrid man played just five games during the 2020/21 season, and that spelled the end of his career at Elland Road.

He departed on loan for the 2021/22 season, before leaving permanently the following summer, after 62 appearances for the club.

It was a move that promised so much, but Casilla's time at Elland Road will always be remembered as a disaster for more reasons than one.

Kiko Casilla's career since leaving Elland Road

Now 37 years old, Casilla's career hasn't got much better since leaving Elland Road.

He joined La Liga side Elche on loan for the 2021/22 season, and despite starting the season as first-choice, he was soon demoted to the bench.

The Spanish international then joined Getafe on a one-year deal, but played just two games, both in the Copa del Rey, and was released at the end of the season.

Now into March 2024, Casilla is still without a club, and his career looks to be over.

It's a far cry from playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world at Real Madrid, and Casilla's career has been on a downward spiral since leaving the Bernabéu.

The Spaniard won't be forgotten in a hurry at Elland Road, but for all the wrong reasons.