Scout Report: Brazil vs Costa Rica - Audition for Real Madrid’s next goalkeeper

Just over a week ago Julen Lopetegui would have been interested in Brazil’s clash with Costa Rica to scout the South American side as potential opponents for Spain in the knockout stage of the 2018 World Cup. Now, however, the 51-year-old, who was sacked as Spain head coach for taking the Real Madrid job on the eve of the tournament, will take a closer look at the players due to his vested interests for his new employers.

Neymar has been heavily linked with a move to Madrid in the last 12 months but Lopetegui may actually pay closer attention to the two goalkeepers on display. Keylor Navas is the current Madrid No.1 and is the star of Costa Rica’s team, but his opposite number, Alisson, is on Madrid's radar. Madrid appear to have accepted defeat in their pursuit of Manchester United ace David De Gea and have switched their focus to Alisson.

The Roma goalkeeper has emerged as one of the best goalkeepers in the world in the last 12 months and the Serie A giants are willing to sell the 25-year-old if they receive a world record fee for a goalkeeper for his services. For those that haven’t seen much of the Roma ace, it’s worth noting that he is keeping Manchester City star Ederson out of the Brazil starting XI.

Madrid president Floretino Perez has been on the market for a new world class goalkeeper for each of the last three seasons, but Navas has managed to survive during that time. Other than the fact the 31-year-old is a very good goalkeeper, one of the reasons he remained Madrid’s No.1 during that time is due to Zinedine Zidane’s loyalty. Now Zidane is no longer at the club, Perez will more than likely get his way in his pursuit of a Galactico goalkeeper.

Navas played an integral in Madrid’s unprecedented run of three straight Champions League trophies, but last season he was outperformed by Alisson in just about every single aspect. The Roma goalkeeper kept more clean sheets in the league (17 vs 7), conceded fewer goals despite playing 10 more games (28 vs 31), had a better save success rate (80.1% vs 73.5%) and completed a greater proportion of his passes (78.9% vs 76%). Not only that, but his WhoScored rating was also better (6.99 vs 6.94).

This isn’t to suggest Navas is not a good goalkeeper, because he is, but Alisson is just one of the best young goalkeepers in the planet and that will show next season at Madrid if Lopetegui gives Perez the green light to his signing.