Real Madrid manager Santiago Solari was forced to explain why he walked away from an interview after Wednesday’s Champions League loss to CSKA Moscow when a reporter asked him about back-up goalkeeper Keylor Navas.

“[Navas] has my utmost respect and admiration as a footballer and as a person,” Solari said ahead of Madrid’s clash with Rayo Vallecano.

“He’s brought so much joy to Madridismo and choosing the line-up is the worst part of being a coach, but it’s my job,” explained Solari.

Navas was first-choice goalkeeper at the club for four years after arriving following the 2018 World Cup, a spell that saw him win three straight Champions League titles and a La Liga trophy while rising to the status of being among the world’s best goalkeepers.

However, this summer saw the arrival of Thibaut Courtois, following years of speculation that Madrid were looking for a new goalkeeper to replace Navas. The goalkeeper was nearly on his way out of the club in 2015 as part of a proposed swap deal with Manchester United for Spain No1 David de Gea, before the move collapsed at the last minute.

Courtois’ arrival has seen Navas make only eight competitive appearances this season, two of which came in the Copa del Rey. With qualification for the Round of 16 having been sealed even before Wednesday’s clash against CSKA, there was speculation that Navas would be restored to the starting XI,