European champions Real Madrid have completed the signing of Costa Rica's FIFA World Cup hero Keylor Navas on a six-year deal.
Real Madrid signs Costa Rica's Keylor Navas from Levante
The 27-year-old goalkeeper, who leaves Levante for the Santiago Bernabeu, was a star performer as Costa Rica reached the quarter-finals in Brazil.
Before being unveiled as a new Real Madrid player, Navas will undergo the customary medical check-up. After the presentation, the keeper will step onto the pitch at the Bernabéu wearing the official white jersey and give a press conference.
A brilliant ten months in 'La Liga' and four even more brilliant weeks during the Brazilian World Cup have put the Costa Rican player on centre stage. Keylor is full of self-belief and never doubted his stint in goal for his country would catapult him back into the limelight and make him a national hero, eclipsing the bitter memories of spending two years on the bench.
A statement published on Real's official website on Sunday evening read: "Real Madrid CF and Levante UD have reached an agreement over the transfer of Keylor Navas, who will be tied to the club for the next six seasons.
"The player will be presented on Tuesday 5 August at 1pm (local time) in the Bernabeu's royal box, after undergoing the relevant medical examinations.
"Subsequently, Navas will tread the turf of the Bernabeu for the first time and will address the media in the press room."
The deal, which is reported to have required Real to pay €10m to Levante to activate the keeper's release clause, could have ramifications for Madrid stopper Diego Lopez. Lopez was Madrid's first-choice keeper in Primera Division matches last season but club captain Iker Casillas started every game in the Copa del Rey and throughout Real's successful UEFA Champions League campaign.
Last season saw Navas pull out all the stops game after game, which saw him being nominated by the Spanish Football Association as the best keeper in 'La Liga' at various stages of the competition, his incredible stopping ability backed up by impressive save percentage stats throughout the season. Keylor's meteoric rise to the top has only just begun.
The former Sevilla keeper's agent recently brushed aside reports that his client was set to join Serie A side Napoli. However, the signing of 27-year-old Navas, whose outstanding performances in Brazil helped his nation top Group D and reach the last-eight for the first time, certainly means serious competition for Casillas.
The 31-year-old flopped in Brazil, conceding seven goals in Spain's defeats to the Netherlands and Chile which saw Vicente del Bosque's side crash out of the tournament at the group stage.
No comments:
Post a Comment