Real Madrid and Navas could end up the big winners after farce

Andy West 09:45 02/09/2015
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • First choice: Navas.

    The last 48 hours have been an enormous embarrassment to Real Madrid, making them look incompetent, petulant and complacent. In the long-run, however, their farcical failure to sign David De Gea could actually work out extremely nicely.

    That is because Keylor Navas – who should by now be a Manchester United player but instead suddenly finds himself the undisputed number one at the Bernabeu – is a very fine keeper indeed.

    Just ask Real Betis striker Ruben Castro, who was twice brilliantly denied by Navas, including an outstanding penalty save, during a fine personal performance from the goalkeeper in Madrid’s 5-0 victory at the Bernabeu on Saturday night.

    The spot-kick heroics resulted in Navas’s name ringing around the famous old stadium – partly with fans showing appreciation for the save, but also as a fond farewell for a man who everyone assumed would leave the club a few days later.

    That was the plan, of course, but now it has been shambolically foiled and the Costa Rican international will have the first opportunity since his arrival from Levante to prove just how good he is.

    Last season, he was the victim of Carlo Ancelotti’s much-disputed decision to make Iker Casillas his first choice between the posts.

    Consequently Navas barely played, making only six league appearances and not featuring in the Champions League after December.

    – RATE, SHARE and WIN with our ValoraFutbol tool
    – #360view: United and Real now need De Gea playing

    – Phil Ball: James & Sporting Gijon early sensations

    Now, of course, everything is suddenly different, and the 28-year-old will unexpectedly play a key role in his team’s trophy quest under Rafa Benitez.

    Madrid have a very challenging few weeks in wait, with trips to Athletic Bilbao, Atletico, Paris-Saint Germain and Sevilla all scheduled before the first Clasico of the season in late November.

    Navas will certainly be kept busy, but his quality means he may well pass the test with flying colours. Then, at the end of the season, he would command a much bigger fee than his current valuation, while De Gea, by then out of contract, would join on a free transfer.

    The alternative scenario, of course, would see Navas commit a costly error in a big game – as can happen to any keeper at any time – to fire up frenzied speculation of exactly how much the team is missing De Gea.

    But if everything goes according to (the new) plan, Los Blancos could have the best of all worlds: a fine season from Navas, selling him at a sizeable profit and signing De Gea for nothing

    Recommended