AS.com

Andrés Fernández (Murcia, 26 years old) is Osasuna's first-choice goalkeeper. Today he'll be in the spotlight more than ever and faces a tough test with the visit of José Mourinho's team. Real Madrid have been keeping an eye on him, as have Atlético and others. Coaching staff at the Bernabéu would like somebody to compete with Casillas for the number '1' shirt, thereby strengthening the team in goal. Adán still wants to go elsewhere and they want ambition, youth and experience in the Primera División. Andrés offers all of those qualities, and Madrid have been tracking his development and his performances closely. His contract runs until 2015 and his buyout clause is worth nine million euros.

In recent months, Andrés has avoided talking about his future and the interest in his transfer. But in an interview with AS in November 2011, he confessed that Madrid was always a big attraction: "When we were kids we all wanted to play at big stadiums and the Bernabéu is one of the biggest in the world. I was a fan of Murcia and also Real Madrid. I saw people like Martín Vázquez, Míchel and Butragueño play."

Today will be his most demanding test. As an oppositie number he has Casillas, the player who was his idol when he started out. Maybe next season fate will bring them together in the same team. Madrid is certainly on his list of favourites.

Avid reader and Buddhist

Outside of football, Andrés studies Information Technology as part of a distance learning programme. He also loves to read; especially novels, essays, books on science and also Buddhism, in which he has been influenced by his mother. He says that since he has approached Buddhism he is much more relaxed, and it lets him know his interior. "I'm a better goalkeeper. It lets you get to know yourself, outside of agression, keeping calm and without entering into others' games."