Santiago Canizares is hoping his former Spain team-mate Iker Casillas can find some peace after a turbulent two years at Real Madrid.

Casillas’s future at Real is in doubt with the club thought to be interested in acquiring Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea this summer.

Canizares, a former star at Real Madrid and Valencia, who played for Casillas’s new coach Rafa Benitez, believes the Real and Spain captain still has a lot to offer whatever club he plays for.

“It’s not easy for Iker to find a place to go because a goalkeeper of such magnitude can only play in a big club and there aren’t that many,” Canizares said.

“We have to remember that (former Barcelona and Spain international Pep) Guardiola went on to play for (Italian side) Brescia (when he left Barcelona).

“It’s not easy for Casillas to find a good solution but I wish him to be happy, because this situation is not fair.

“If he doesn’t find happiness at Real Madrid, I hope he will find it somewhere else.”

The 34-year-old Casillas lost his starting place under former Real coach Jose Mourinho and also struggled at the World Cup, where Spain exited at the first hurdle last year.

Real goalkeeper Keylor Navas, who joined the club last summer, made a handful of starts earlier in the 2014-15 campaign for the Spanish club, but Casillas regained his spot in the first XI.

“Perhaps he is not going through his best time right now but it’s only natural,” Canizares added.

“Every player in the world goes through that and here we seem to easily forget this.

“Once Iker retires, he will have Madrid at his feet.”