Real Madrid rewarded goalkeeper Javi Navarro in the best possible way after he played a key role in the Merengues’ youth team winning the Champions League title following their penalty shootout victory over Club Brugge.
Navarro saved two penalties against the Belgian club, securing Real Madrid’s second ever Champions League title and partially salvaging the first team’s disastrous season.
Alvaro Arbeloa has called up Navarro to Real Madrid’s first-team squad for Tuesday’s La Liga match against Alavés.
The 19-year-old Navarro will be the backup for third-choice goalkeeper Fran González, who has suffered a muscle injury. Arbeloa saw this as a perfect opportunity to reward Navarro and give him the recognition he deserves for his outstanding performance with the youth team.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid will honor the youth team players returning from Switzerland with the Champions League trophy before the match against Alavés at the Santiago Bernabéu, in front of a large crowd.
It’s worth noting that Thibaut Courtois, Real Madrid’s first-choice goalkeeper, is still injured, and Andriy Lunin will start for Los Blancos for the fifth consecutive match against Alavés, with another young goalkeeper, Sergio Mestre, as his backup.
