Real Madrid Transfer Rumors: Costa Rican Goalkeeper Keylor Navas May Sign; What Does This Mean For Iker Casillas?

Spain’s leading sports newspaper, Marca, has dropped a major bomb. In their July 16 cover they feature the headline “Keylor al Madrid” which translates to “Keylor to Madrid,” meaning exactly what you have in mind. Levante’s goalkeeper and Costa Rica sensation in the World Cup, Keylor Navas, is signing with Real Madrid, according to the publication. Navas was flying under the radar playing for Spanish middleweight Levante until his outstanding participation in Brazil 2014. He saved 21 of 23 (91 percent) shots on target at the World Cup, and led Costa Rica to its first-ever quarterfinals appearance, losing only to the Netherlands in penalty shots.

Although it had been rumored that Navas -- who only had a year left on his contract with Levante -- would land a contract with Bayern Munich, Real Madrid were the ones to agree to pay the hefty buyout for the Costa Rican goalie. According to Marca, the deal will benefit Levante with €8 million ($10.8 million) and another €2 million ($2.7 million) will go directly to Navas himself. The deal will allegedly be formalized once Madrid finalizes the sale of Diego López, who has been targeted by Napoli and Monaco. Meanwhile, Iker Casillas is expected to stay despite Nava’s arrival into the club. But should he be worried?

Navas’ arrival to the club will surely add more pressure on Casillas, who fell short on his performance at the World Cup in Brazil, humiliatingly losing 5-1 to the Netherlands and then 2-0 to Chile. In both cases he was guilty of making basic errors. After rising to fame and glory in 2010, winning the World Cup held in South Africa, and also landing the coveted Golden Glove for the best goalie of the tournament, Casillas has had a difficult few years.

In December 2012, Jose Mourinho, manager of Madrid at the time, dropped Casillas for Antonio Adan, which eventually became a bad move. In the January transfer window, Mourinho purchased Diego Lopez from Sevilla and installed him in the team ahead of Casillas and Adan. When Carlo Ancelotti took over last summer, with Mourinho heading to Chelsea, he picked Lopez to play in La Liga and Casillas for cup competitions. Although that move seemed to work well, Casillas World Cup performance was nothing but disappointing. So it’s not a surprise when we say that right now the best move for Ancelotti is to put Navas as his first choice as soon as he signs that contract.

What do you think? Are Iker Casillas’ days over in Real Madrid now that Keylor Navas is joining the team? Or does Casillas still have a chance in vindicating himself after a disastrous World Cup run?