Real Madrid were happy enough to trade in Keylor Navas for David De Gea this past summer, but Navas’ performances have complicated that idea. Ali Al-Hassan writes about the Costa Rican’s resurgence.
Let me take you back in time and away from football for just a minute. Take your mind to stories during your childhood such as Cinderella, The Beauty and the Beast, or even The Lion King. We have grown up with the idea that the world is made of unlikely heroes and that not everything will go as expected and that the easy way out isn’t always the best way out. Also, we have been raised with the theory that if we work hard at something, we will eventually get it. Yes, the stories mentioned above are fairytales, but there is a reason that they exist.
Every once in a while, there comes a time where the underdog wins. But unfortunately, the story of Florentino Perez and his Real Madrid presidency has never been a fairytale and there is reason to believe that it won’t change anytime soon.
During the last summer transfer window, Real Madrid were so close to signing David De Gea from Manchester United to a point where many media outlets went out and confirmed the deal with Keylor Navas going the other way. At the time, many Los Merengues fans were more than happy with the deal as they were prepared to see the proven Spanish goalkeeper wear the legendary Real Madrid shirt. Of course, some shocking problems regarding a failed fax machine led to a failure of the transfer with Real Madrid and Manchester United playing the “blame game” for a while. Less than a year later, things don’t seem as simple anymore.
Keylor Navas, the man who was once unwanted at Real Madrid, unpacked his bags and was prepared to spend at least another season at the White House. With all the speculation surrounding him, the Costa Rican walked onto the pitch as the main goalkeeper and was ready to prove his worth. From the first whistle until this very day, he has fought to show just how good a player he is, and that Real Madrid should not be looking back.
Even though Real Madrid are now in third place in La Liga with practically no chance of winning the competition, there is no Madridista who would be able to admit that it would be so much worse without the safe hands of Keylor Navas. The goalkeeper has saved the team on various occasions and has been able to prove himself as one of the most consistent players on the squad.
Of course, there is no denying that David De Gea is a fantastic goalkeeper, but Real Madrid should not make the mistake that we have seen them make so many times in the past as they sell proven players in order to bring in some of the bigger names in the game.
My main questions here are the following: We have grown up as people who truly believed that if you worked hard for something, you will get it. In Real Madrid though, that belief is practically thrown out the window. So, will all of Keylor Navas’ hard work pay off at Real Madrid? Or is it all going to be wasted as he will be forced to move on?
In truth, it’s quite shocking to me that Florentino Perez has not learnt from the past as he continues to show just how much he cares about the business aspect of things with little regards to the fans and how they feel. Some very clear examples of this are the departures of Carlo Ancelotti and Mesut Ozil. Back to our point though, Keylor Navas has signed a new deal with Los Blancos after his failed transfer to Manchester United, and I would personally find it very surprising if he were to leave the club this summer for De Gea. Having said that, I wouldn’t be too surprised if he did make the move.
Florentino Perez has been facing a lot of criticism in recent months from the fans asking him to step down and I believe that the sale of Keylor Navas will only make it worse, even if he is able to bring in a goalkeeper such as David De Gea. Now, I am not saying that De Gea isn’t a great player, nor am I saying that Navas is better than him, but the Costa Rican has been able to prove himself time and time again on the big stage and it would be cruel to sell him simply because the club wants to bring in another big name.
Keylor Navas has proven that he is the right man for Real Madrid and has shown incredible dedication to the squad. Florentino Perez may end up being criminally mistaken if De Gea arrives and impresses more than Navas has, but that doesn’t change the fact that Keylor Navas deserves to be at Real Madrid and that he deserves to continue as the starting goalkeeper right now.
Will we see yet another “Galactico” move from Perez in the summer? I guess we’ll just have to wait and watch.
Written by Ali Al-Hassan
- Should Real Madrid stick to Keylor Navas? - March 31, 2016
- The Raphael Varane dilemma: Potential, future & playing time - October 1, 2014
- Casillas, Lopez & Navas. Who’ll emerge in Real Madrid’s goalkeeping dilemma? - August 9, 2014
