Real Madrid goalkeeper and captain Iker Casillas has said that he desires to remain at the La Liga club for another eight years if possible—ideally finishing his career with the club he currently stars for every week in the Spanish domestic league.

Casillas has already played 13 seasons for Madrid, having made his first-team debut in 1999 against Athletic Bilbao, and wants to keep playing for Los Blancos for many more years to come, telling ESPN Soccernet about his long-term goals for the club.

It would be a dream come true and a real joy to finish my career at a club where I had the privilege of starting out when I was just nine.

I have a contract until I’m 36 and my dream is to finish when I’m 39.

The Spanish international also took the time to reflect on his career so far, and the pressure on players to continue to perform and improve on the week before.

I’m also aware that it gets more difficult all the time—you have demands on you, there are those who set the bar higher and the people don’t allow you to fall below that. It’s an added responsibility for me.

I’m happy because I never thought I would be here so long, even though it was my dream. The years go by so quickly, but I’m really pleased with all the things that Real Madrid has given me and all that I’ve given the club.

The 31-year-old is no doubt a class act both on and off the pitch, and has established himself over the years as one of the top goalkeepers on the planet—if not the greatest of them all.

From his stellar performances at Euro 2012—which included one incredible act of sportsmanship—to the way that he has started this season, and the ones previously for Real Madrid, there is little doubt that Casillas has a future at the Spanish club for as long as he desires.

His glittering record speaks for itself.

Featured in the UEFA Team of the Year Award for five years straight now; IFFHS World’s Best Goalkeeper for four consecutive years; FIFA World’s Best Goalkeeper for the same period also.

For Real Madrid domestically, he has won the Spanish league five times, the Spanish Cup and the Spanish Supercup. On the European stage, he has won the UEFA Champions League twice, the Super Cup once and the Intercontinental Cup once.

The FIFA World Cup, two European Championships—the list could go on and on for Casillas, but essentially, there is no goalkeeper in the world currently that has won and achieved what he has done for Real Madrid so far in his career.

And the fact his reflexes are still strong and his vision and ability to read the game are still as high as ever, you get the feeling that Madrid fans might still be cheering Casillas’ name for many more years to come.

20 years for Real Madrid? It’s not completely out of the equation.

Elite.