The starting goalkeeper for Barça, Marc-André ter Stegen, was injured yesterday in the match against Villarreal and will be out for eight to nine months
The world of football woke up to the surprising news that Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen suffered a serious injury to the patellar tendon in his right leg, which will keep him away from football for around eight months. In light of this situation, Costa Rican Keylor Navas has emerged as a potential replacement.
Keylor Navas is currently unemployed; he has not found a team to play for after leaving Paris Saint-Germain when his contract ended. He has been training in Costa Rica with Deportivo Saprissa, but has not accepted any offers to play for a club.
The Central American goalkeeper is a viable option for Barcelona because he is among the group of goalkeepers who are currently free agents, allowing him to sign with this team as he has no ties to any institution.
In Spain, reports such as those from Mundo Deportivo are highlighting him as one of the strongest options to join Barcelona.
ESPN understands that if an approach is made, Keylor Navas is open to considering the proposal, especially given what Barcelona represents.
He has been linked to clubs; first, Italy’s Monza showed interest to the point of wanting to sign him, but the Costa Rican closed the door on Serie A and did not want to join this club that plays in the top tier of Calcio.
ESPN has learned that Keylor Navas has prioritized the financial aspect; he desires a substantial contract, recognizing that this is likely his last chance to secure a solid agreement as he is 37 years old and will turn 38 next December.
In addition to Monza, Keylor Navas has caught the attention of clubs in MLS, such as San Diego FC, and his name has also been of interest to Villarreal, which was one of his most appealing options, as playing in Spain is one of his aspirations to return to that football scene.
A few weeks ago, his name was mentioned in connection with Gremio in Brazil, however, it was simply an offer, and the vice president of the Brazilian club killed any option by declaring that “they should forget that story.”
Keylor Navas remains in Central America, the former Real Madrid goalkeeper is among a list of free agents that includes Jordi Masip, Edgar Badía, Nikola Petric, Antonio Adán, and Loris Karius, as well as his former teammate, Sergio Rico.
Barcelona currently leads the Spanish League with 18 points from six matches played, dominating their games; meanwhile, in the Champions League, they lost to Monaco, 2-1.