It was revealed later this Monday, September 2, Keylor Navas will leave Los Blancos to pursue new challenges in French Ligue 1, with his new team Paris-Saing-Germain, who acquired the experienced Costa Rican goalkeeper for €15 million in hopes to pursue their Champions League ambitions.
Keylor Navas of Real Madrid looks on during the warm-up before the Liga match between Villarreal CF and Real Madrid CF at Estadio de la Ceramica on September 1, 2019 in Villareal, Spain. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Navas, who started off his football career at home country team Saprissa in 2005 needed only five years to get spotted by Albacete scouts, who did not hesitate to sign the talented goalkeeper and give him a chance to prove himself in Spain. After a short spell at his new team, Navas found himself loaned out to Levante, who were impressed by his contributions to the team and decided to make a move permanent in 2012. Navas spent two seasons representing Levante, and he did so with flying colours. His talent did not go unnoticed in LaLiga, and it did not take long for Navas to be spotted by Real Madrid, who decided to make a move and sign the promising goalkeeper.
In summer of 2014, Real Madrid signed Navas for €10 million and did not hesitate to make him a key part of the team. Keylor Navas did not need long to become the starting goalkeeper for Los Blancos, a team he helped win three consecutive Champions League titles in years that followed. Sadly, his time at Real Madrid has come to an end when Los Blancos signed Thibaut Courtois, who took over the starter position from Navas.
In 2018/19 season Navas accumulated only 21 appearances for Real Madrid across five competitions and only 10 appearances in LaLiga. Losing his spot in the team, Navas started looking for a new home and while it seemed like Navas will end up staying at Real Madrid for one last season, the French and Spanish outfit managed to make a deal in the dying moments of the transfer market, providing Navas with a new home.
As reported, PSG approached Real Madrid, offering €15 million and a season-long loan of their goalkeeper Alphonse Areola for Navas and Real Madrid accepted. After the transfer was made public, Navas stated:
“I’m really excited to sign for Paris Saint-Germain. After my experience in Spain, I’m coming to France with high hopes. Paris Saint-Germain is a very prestigious club in Latin America and I am keen to be part of the adventure that started several years ago.”
To which he added:
“I will do everything I can to help PSG win new titles, bringing all my experience and professionalism. And I will also try to win the hearts of the Parisian fans, famous throughout Europe for their passion.”
Keylor Navas leaves Santiago Bernabeu after five seasons, during which he accumulated 162 appearances and won one LaLiga title, Spanish Cup, four FIFA Club World Cups, three UEFA Super Cups and three Champions League titles.
His replacement, Alphonse Areola, who will arrive at Real Madrid as loanee will return to LaLiga after three long years and for the first time since 2016 when he represented Villarreal. The French goalkeeper is a product of PSG’s youth academy and has established himself as one of the most promising young goalkeepers in France and in the world. Yet it’s his lack of experience that prevents him from joining PSG on their quest to win the Champions League. That being said, both goalkeepers will meet up with their former teammates on September 18th and later on November 6th, when PSG and Real Madrid clash in their group stage of the Champions League.
