Wednesday 2 July 2014 12:51, UK
Levante's president has told Atletico Madrid to improve their offer for Costa Rica's World Cup star Keylor Navas if they truly want to sign the goalkeeper.
Navas was decisive in the penalty shoot-out win over Greece which saw Costa Rica reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time, making eight saves during the game and keeping out Theofanis Gekas' spot-kick after extra-time.
The Levante stopper has conceded just twice in four games at the World Cup, continuing his excellent form for his club last season.
Navas has just a year left on his contract with Levante - where he earns £5,000 a week - but club president Quico Catalan insists his goalkeeper will only leave once a club pays his buy-out clause of 10million euros (£8million).
Speaking to Spanish radio station Cadena Ser, the president confirmed reports the club had rejected a bid from Atletico, who are searching for a long-term replacement for Thibaut Courtois. The Belgian is set to bring an end to his three-year loan spell at the Vicente Calderon to end by returning to parent club Chelsea after the World Cup.
Navas was the scourge of Atletico towards the end of last season, keeping a clean sheet as Levante pulled off a shock 2-0 victory over Diego Simeone's side which threatened to derail their eventually successful title bid.
According to Catalan, the Primera Division champions offered Levante 6million euros plus Brazilian forward Leo Baptistao for Navas, which was roundly rejected.
"Keylor has a 10million euro release clause and we know that Keylor is worth more than that," he said.
"All the teams that have made offers for Keylor know what the answer will be - the release clause."
Referring to Atletico's bid, Catalan explained: "Six million euros plus Leo Baptistao is not 10million.
"Keylor is having a great World Cup and many clubs, foreign and Spanish, have shown their interest," Catalan added, while insisting that, contrary to reports, Real Madrid had yet to make any contact about the goalkeeper.
Speaking on the same radio programme as his president, Navas gave no clues away about his preferred future destination.
"The most important thing for me right now is the World Cup," said the goalkeeper, who will face Holland in a quarter-final tie in Salvador on Saturday. "I will evaluate other things later, I just want to enjoy the World Cup."
