Keylor Navas, when not in front of the net during La Sele, Costa Rica’s national team play, has been left out of the team for the friendlies against South Korea and Japan as he focuses on his battle to be No. 1 goalkeeper at his real job with the Real Madrid.
Navas, 31, faces competition from the Real Madrid’s signing of Thibaut Courtois.
Coach Julen Lopetegui indicated recently that he could opt to rotate his two keepers for Champions League and domestic matches.
“We have spoken with the players that are playing in foreign leagues and after the World Cup — some of them joined their teams 15 or 22 days late,” Costa Rica coach Ronald Gonzalez said.
“In some cases, they are dealing with new coaches or others are about to finish their contracts and because of that we decided not to call them up.”
Navas, who has played 84 times for La Sele, was praised by Costa Rica teammate Giancarlo Gonzalez.
“Keylor is our star player,” the Bologna defender said. “He’s a reference in our country as a player and as a person.”
