Courtois rivalry welcomed by Navas
RECORD: CHELSEA BREAK BANK FOR SPANISH KEEPER
Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas says the signing of Belgian keeper Thibaut Courtois has not affected his desire to remain at the triple European champions as he emphatically ruled out leaving the club in order to be assured of first team football.
“I’m telling everyone loud and clear, I have as much enthusiasm for leaving Madrid as I do for dying,” Navas told reporters after Real’s 2-1 victory over AS Roma in a friendly at the Metlife Stadium in New Jersey on Wednesday.
The Costa Rican international joined Real in 2014 and has helped them win a remarkable three consecutive Champions League crowns between 2016 and 2018 as well as lifting the La Liga title in 2017.
The keeper’s long-term future has often been in doubt, however. He was on the verge of joining Manchester United in 2015 when Real’s pursuit of David de Gea fell through on transfer deadline day, while the club also failed to sign Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga last January from Athletic Bilbao.
Navas’ status as Real’s No 1 is now seriously threatened by the arrival of Courtois, who was awarded the Golden Glove for being the best goalkeeper at the 2018 World Cup and joined from Chelsea on Wednesday for a reported €35 million.
Meanwhile, as an instant replacement, Chelsea have signed Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga for a world-record £71 million fee from Athletic Bilbao.
Arrizabalaga becomes the most expensive goalkeeper in football history, ahead of Liverpool’s Alisson, who moved from AS Roma for £67m earlier in the transfer window.
“The Spanish international goalkeeper arrives ahead of the new Premier League season having signed a seven-year contract at Stamford Bridge,” Chelsea said in a statement.
Athletic confirmed earlier on Wednesday that Arrizabalaga’s representatives had deposited his buy-out clause at the Spanish federation’s offices.
“He has already demonstrated fantastic quality and consistency and will be a big part of any success Chelsea have in the coming years,” Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia said.
“His long-term contract reflects the belief we have in him and we look ahead to the coming seasons with an enormous sense of optimism.”
Arrizabalaga has played 53 La Liga matches for Athletic Bilbao since breaking into the team in 2016.