Football
Dermot Corrigan, Madrid correspondent 9y

Keylor Navas still dreaming of being Real Madrid's No. 1

Real Madrid's current backup goalkeeper Keylor Navas says he aims to be first choice at the Bernabeu next season, regardless of who he is competing against for a starting spot.

Costa Rica international Navas joined Madrid for €10 million from Levante after impressing with his country at the 2014 World Cup, but he has spent his first season at the Bernabeu in reserve behind long-serving club captain Iker Casillas.

Casillas has two more years on his current Madrid contract, but his uneasy relationship with a significant number of Bernabeu fans has led to regular speculation the 33-year-old will move on in the summer after 16 seasons with the first team.

There have also been widespread reports that Casillas will be replaced by David De Gea, with Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal having said it will be difficult to prevent the former Atletico star returning to Madrid.

Nevertheless, Navas, who has played just 11 games for Madrid this season across all competitions, said he remains focus on seeing off any competition and claiming the No. 1 jersey at the club for the 2015-16 campaign.

"Next year I hope to have the same calm, motivation and effort," he said in AS. "In my head I still have this dream to be first choice at Real Madrid. That I do not complain does not mean I am enjoying [being backup].

"I have had bad times, but I never lost my motivation to work and make an effort so that in the moments I got to play I could be at my best."

Navas said he ignored the constant speculation about the goalkeeping situation at the club.

"These are rumours which I do not bother about," he said. "At the moment there are good goalkeepers at Real Madrid and we deserve respect.

"My mentality will never change, whoever I am competing with. I hope that next year I have the chance to play more games."

Navas played in Sunday's 4-1 win at Espanyol after coach Carlo Ancelotti said he would give each keeper one of the season's last two fixtures.

That means Casillas is likely to start this weekend's match at home to Getafe, which AS claims could be his farewell appearance at the Bernabeu.

Madrid legend Michel told radio show "El Larguero" that Casillas starting at the Bernabeu -- where he has often been rested by Ancelotti to spare him whistles from the crowd -- could be a sign that the goalkeeper wanted to say goodbye.

"I heard, although do not know if it is true, that Ancelotti let him decide which game to play," Michel said. "If he chose to play at the Bernabeu, there would be a reason for that."

The former Madrid midfielder said that De Gea was a top keeper but replacing three-time Champions League winner Casillas at Madrid would be a huge challenge.

"I rate him as a goalkeeper, but a replacement [for Casillas] is something else," he said. "He is a magnificent goalkeeper. He has improved his technical qualities and also with his feet. He has also become a big leader during his time in England.

"If he leaves Manchester, as it seems he will, it is a difficult space to fill."

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