Despite signing Thibaut Courtois during the summer transfer window, Real Madrid players, coaches, and fans love everything about Keylor Navas. So much so in fact, they want to sign him to a new contract in the coming weeks.
Costa Rica lucked out when Keylor Navas took over as the starting goalkeeper for the national team. And since making his debut with the Ticos in 2008, it has become perfectly clear that Navas will go down as the best keeper, and possibly player, from the island nation in the Caribbean.
After playing from 2005 until 2010 in his home country with Deportivo Saprissa, Keylor made his way to Spain where he signed with Albacete Balompié. Ever since, he has elevated his game to the point where he is considered by many to be one of the best net-minders in Europe.
Real Madrid recognized this following Navas’ play in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and snapped him up from Levante as quickly as they could.
Despite making only eight appearances in the Champions League and the league in his first season in the capital, the board and coaching staff kept their faith in the quick goalkeeper and that faith has paid off tenfold.
Reports are indicating that Navas will receive a new, bolstered contract in the coming month or so that will keep him with Real Madrid until the summer of 2021.
It was Navas who was in net for the three consecutive Champions League titles and his ability to come up in the clutch has probably been the best of his many incredible skills.
Even though many may look at Courtois as the outright starter and a better keeper than Navas, many Madridstas will disagree after seeing what Navas has done in the wake of club legend Iker Casillas leaving a few years back.
Casillas was probably the best keeper Los Blancos have ever had, however, Navas has thrown his name in the hat for that title with the way he has performed since becoming the regular starter.
The competition between Courtois and Navas will only benefit the squad as it is so rare to have options like this defending the net.
With help from youngsters Luca Zidane and Andriy Lunin on the horizon, this is going to be the Navas – Courtois show for the next three years at least.