Madrid, July 7 (IANS) Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas has expressed his excitement at arriving for Spanish football club Real Madrid’s pre-season.
Navas arriving here on Monday said he is “very excited and ready” to start the pre-season despite missing the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup for his country due to injury, reports Efe.
Rafael Benitez’s arrival as the new head coach may present an opportunity to get first team action for Navas, who confirmed that he has spoken with Benitez and is raring to go.
Regarding Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti’s departure from the team, Navas said: “I have to be concerned with the present, and the present for me is different now. I have to take things seriously. Ancelotti is in the past now and we have to get used to how things will be from now on.”
Real Madrid’s interest to sign goalkeeper David de Gea could see Navas spend another year on the bench. But Navas said he was calm about the prospect.
“He is an excellent keeper that has done things very well. He deserves respect. I am calm; I will fight with whomever I have to. I’ll defend what’s mine.”
When asked about the possible departure of veteran defender Sergio Ramos from Real Madrid, Navas said the defender is “a very important player. I hope he continues.”