Keylor Navas’ desire to play first-team football was the reason why he left Ligue 1 champions Paris Siant-Germain for a fresh start in the Premier League at Nottingham Forest, Parc des Princes coach Christophe Galtier tells FootMercato.
Navas, one of the talented and most decorated goalkeepers of the last 10 years, was not used to life on the sidelines. Between 2015 and 2022, the Costa Rica international only spent one season on the bench, losing his place to Thibaut Courtois shortly before swapping Real Madrid for PSG.
Given how quickly he rushed for the exit after Courtois touched down in the Spanish capital, Galtier must have known that Navas – such is his hunger for action – would not take to his back-seat role particularly kindly in France.
There were never any concerns about the 36-year-old’s attitude or professionalism behind the scenes at Paris Saint-Germain. But while the cynics will argue that Nottingham Forest represents a major step down, Navas would obviously prefer to stand between the sticks in a relegation battle than watch a Champions League knock-out tie from the sidelines.
Nottingham Forest sign Keylor Navas from Paris Saint-Germain
Navas made his first league appearance during the whole of 2022/23 in Forest’s 1-0 triumph over Leeds United on Saturday; Gianluigi Donnarumma now firmly established as PSG’s number one.
“Things were very clear between Gigio, Keylor and me,” Galtier explains.
“If I told you (Navas) was released, that would be telling you that Keylor didn’t do his job well. He behaved very well during the first six months (of the season).
“He wanted to play, he wanted to leave to play. Obviously he didn’t accept (being second choice). But his behaviour has always been exemplary. There has never been a problem between the two, the three and four (goalkeepers).”
Navas, a three-time Champions League winner, could bring vital experience and elite-level quality to a Forest side hardly safe from relegation despite an impressive run of results. He was, in the words of coach Steve Cooper, ‘outstanding’ on his City Ground bow against Leeds.
“You don’t need me to tell you about his experience and the success he had,” Cooper beams. “But he will still have wanted to do well in his first game for the club. And he did. He was outstanding in the first half.
“The obvious talking points are his saves, and rightly. He deserves all the credit for that. But I loved his composure in the game as well; his game-management and his decision-making.
“I’m delighted he’s got up and running. It was something which helped us win the game, for sure. We’ve had a good few days with him. All he’s shown is a good work ethic, a humility and a desire to jump on board.
“We’re really pleased he’s here. We’re really looking forward to working with him now.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
