Real Madrid could be on the verge of losing Keylor Navas this season. The Costa Rican international is reportedly moving to Paris Saint-Germain. As a result, the Spanish giants will be forced to secure an immediate replacement, with Marca drawing up four potential candidates.
The Spanish radio station has picked Willy Caballero, Pepe Reina, Maarten Stekelenburg and Diego Benaglio. And in this article, we will assess all the four options and figure out who might be the best candidate for Real Madrid this summer.
Willy Caballero
Caballero hasn’t played a great deal of football since his move to Manchester City in 2014. He was considered the prime alternative for Joe Hart when Manuel Pellegrini was still in charge of the Citizens. He is also the shortest among the four ‘keepers on this list, standing at 1.86m.
The Argentine is currently the second choice goalkeeper at Chelsea – just behind Kepa Arrizabalaga. But, the 37-year-old is certainly not the best option for Real Madrid despite his vast experience in Spanish football. His howler during the World Cup last summer is already well documented. As far as quality is concerned, Caballero is not up to the mark when compared to other goalkeepers on this list.
Pepe Reina
Reina is by far the most successful goalkeeper on this list. The AC Milan star won the FIFA World Cup with Spain in 2010, won the Bundesliga with Bayern along with the FA Cup with Liverpool. The Spaniard made almost 400 competitive appearances for the Reds and has featured in nearly 200 matches for Napoli – making him the most experienced player on this list.
Reina is currently the second choice goalkeeper for Milan, with Gianluigi Donnarumma being the number one. He did, however, play for Barcelona in the past and a move to Real Madrid may not be a logical decision given the rivalry between the two teams. That being said, the 36-year-old is undoubtedly an attractive option for Los Blancos, unlike Caballero.
Maarten Stekelenburg
Stekelenburg is undoubtedly a talented goalkeeper, even at the age of 36. The Dutchman was one of Ajax’s most successful ‘keepers, having won two Eredivisie titles and three league cups while making almost 300 competitive appearances for the Dutch giants.
However, the former AS Roma star has played very little football during his time in England. In fact, the Dutchman has only made 55 Premier League appearances and has only featured in five competitive matches during the past couple of seasons. And this lack of exposure could make Stekelenburg a risky option for Real Madrid.
Diego Benaglio
Diego Benaglio might be the best option for Real Madrid in their bid to replace Navas this season. This is primarily because the former Swiss international has made 23 league appearances with Monaco last season, unlike other goalkeepers on this list, who have played very little football in recent years.
Benaglio is also an excellent leader and has won the Bundesliga with VfL Wolfsburg. He has never played in Spain, but his vast experience in German top-flight could surely help him become the ideal short-term replacement for Navas at Real Madrid this season.
