Real Madrid: Keylor Navas please don’t go!
By Ben Sundock
Reports out of both France and Spain are indicating that longtime Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas will join Paris Saint-Germain in the next few days. This, I think, is the wrong move for both the player and the club.
If it wasn’t for the man wearing the number one jersey in the Santiago Bernabéu, there is a very good chance Real Madrid would not have its 13 precious Champions League titles. If it wasn’t for Navas, there is a good chance Real Madrid wouldn’t have won the league during the 2016/2017.
Tasked with the daunting chore of taking over for Iker Casillas – arguably the best net-minder in Real’s long history – the Costa Rican international has put his blood, sweat, and tears into defending the badge and winning trophy after trophy.
EXCLUSIVA@NavasKeylor se despide de Zidane: ya tiene acuerdo con el @PSG_espanolhttps://t.co/sm8sIr1DPB pic.twitter.com/PoNhpOndlY
— La Nación (@nacion) August 28, 2019
Bought from Levante for a measly €10 million back in 2014 after a breakout World Cup in Brazil, Navas assumed the role of regular starter at the beginning of the 2015/2016 season and immediately made a huge impact.
In that season, Real Madrid defeated Atletico Madrid in a thrilling Champions League final with Navas in goal and just a few months later helped the club to the FIFA Club World Cup title.
Fast forward three years and 11 trophies and here we are wondering if Keylor Navas will remain with the club through the weekend. Rumors from La Nación and AS have indicated that PSG and Real Madrid are very close to terms that will send Navas to Paris and bring Alfphonse Areola to Madrid.
PSG has been the clear cut choice of Navas all summer and makes the most sense since the Ligue 1 giants recently lost Gigi Buffon and have a ton of money to play around with. Keylor’s €7 million salary is a bit extreme considering he is 32-years-old, but don’t be surprised if PSG is fine paying it.
I personally would hate to see this wonderful goalkeeper leave the club. Yes, Thibaut Courtois is the starter and should be getting the majority of the minutes, however, that doesn’t mean that Navas is a bench warmer.
Clubs that wish to win domestic cups and compete for the league title at the same time need to have two solid goalkeepers who can rotate in and out. Navas and Courtois is probably the most menacing duo in Europe at the moment.
If he walks, Areola would be a solid backup, but not as good as Navas. Andriy Lunin is showing promise and will stay with the clubs for many years, but it’s a big gamble to throw him in as the second choice keeper after just a couple of loan stints.
Next. James Rodriguez joins Real Madrid’s ever-growing injury list. dark
This could be the end of another glorious era of goalkeeping at Real Madrid and seeing Navas leave will be tough to swallow. Please, please, please stay Keylor!