Keylor Navas expecting Madrid to facilitate his summer exit
The Costa Rican keeper is expecting Real Madrid to facilitate his move to another top club, even if it means that they will lose money on his sale.
The new Real Madrid squad will start to take shape over the coming weeks, with a number of players set to leave as new faces arrive.
And one of those players on the way out is Keylor Navas. The club has already made the Costa Rican goalkeeper aware that he would be surplus to requirements next season and will, therefore, have a chance to say his farewells on Sunday at the Bernabéu against Betis, as reported by Spanish TV program Jugones on Monday.
AS has learned that Navas was informed by Zinedine Zidane himself, something that surprised the Costa Rican considering that shortly after Zidane’s return in March, the coach had told him that he would be part of his plans next season. However, Zidane is understood to have explained to him that the club had a decisive strategy, where Thibaut Courtois would be the club’s indisputable starting keeper next season.
Even when previously aware of the club’s commitment to the Belgian keeper, Navas had not given up on staying to fight for his place in the hopes that his position would be different with Zidane than with previous coach Santiago Solari, who had completely left him out of the cold.
However, after his Monday meeting with Zidane, the 33-year-old knows he must find a new club, but there are certain factors that could make that difficult. As such, he is expecting Madrid to facilitate his exit, even if it means that they lose money on his sale.
Jorge Mendes could be key to Navas’ future
As a gesture of gratitude for his services over the past few years, earlier this season Madrid renewed Navas’ contract until 2021 and raised his salary to five millions euros, despite knowing that he would possibly leave in the summer. But his high salary coupled with his age could make it difficult for a top club to sign the 33-year-old, especially if Madrid do not allow him to leave on a free transfer.
Given this situation, the Costa Rican international placed himself in the hands of super agent Jorge Mendes some months ago. Although Mendes is not officially his agent, Navas is trusting in Mendes' power and influence to find him a satisfactory deal at a new club.