Real Madrid and Spain keeper, Iker Casillas (26), signed a deal today with Groupama to insure his hands until the end of the season for seven and a half million euros. According to Casillas, the terms of the policy means that he has 24 hour cover anywhere in the world for accidents suffered both at and outside work.

In part exchange for the cover, Casillas has agreed to participate in the company's promotional and publicity campaigns. Groupama, which is the Spanish subsidiary of a multinational company is about to implement a four-year aggressive growth plan using the Real stopper as the main protagonist of an extensive above-the-line advertising offensive.

For his part, Casillas joked that. "If I damage my knee, I'll pretend my hand hurts."

During September alone, three other first division goalkeepers have suffered hand injuries: Real Murcia's Héctor Fabián Carini is recovering from a broken little finger, Atletico Madrid's Italian keeper, Christian Abbiati is suffering from arthritis following a penalty save, and Osasuna's Ricardo López had to abandon a training session after arthritis flared up between the third and fourth fingers of his right hand.