Celso Borges hails "ideal goalkeeper" Keylor Navas

Deportivo La Coruna midfielder Celso Borges has paid tribute to Costa Rica international teammate Keylor Navas, who has excelled for Real Madrid this season.

Navas came close to joining Manchester United in the summer transfer window in a deal that would have seen David de Gea make the move to the Bernabeu.

The goalkeeper ultimately remained in Spain, however, and has been one of La Liga's standout performers thus far this season.

Borges, who plays alongside Navas at international level, has branded the 28-year-old "the best goalkeeper in La Liga".

"I've known Keylor from Costa Rica, and from Saprissa. We share a beautiful friendship. I was 16 when I met him the first time. We communicate a lot," Borges told Radio Marca.

"He's always had that ambition to win and be the best. He's never lost it. He's not just the best goalkeeper in La Liga. He works to be at the top and it is very well deserved.

"His virtues? He has intuition before the shot and impressive reflexes. He reads these situations very well. Mentally he's very strong. He's the ideal goalkeeper."

Both Borges and Navas came through the academy at Costa Rican team Saprissa.