'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Faith and patience are always rewarded. Just when everything feels utterly hopeless and painfully dark, the a ray of light can illuminate one’s entire universe. A better example of this couldn’t be found when looking at Keylor Navas’ trajectory in the last couple of years.
From getting relegated to the third division in Spain to becoming the first choice goalkeeper for the most successful club in European football and on the verge of breaking a goalkeeping record that has stood intact since 1975/76, Navas’ rise to the top has been meteoric. But it wasn’t without some divine intervention.
Trending
Breakthrough in 2013/14
During his time at Albacete, he couldn’t stop them from getting relegated to the third division. Levante, then, snapped him up as a backup initially. After a season-and-a-half with the Catalonian outfit, he became the first name on the teamsheet and one of the most consistent goalkeepers in the league.
However, the 2013/14 season was the breakthrough one.
In the 37 games that he featured, he kept 17 clean sheets. Not only that, he made an astonishing 3.71 saves per game before letting in a goal and an even better stat of average claim success at an insane 95%. He let in a miserly 1.04 goals-per-game, something that spoke volumes about his ability given that he played for Levante.
His fantastic performances were acknowledged when he was awarded the best La Liga goalkeeper in 2013/14.
Then came the 2014 World Cup, where he was even better in the five games that he played. 3 clean sheets, 0.4 goals conceded-per-game, 10.5 saves before letting in a goal and a 98% claim success rate – he was other-worldly and by far the best goalkeeper in the World Cup along with Manuel Neuer.
Real Madrid sign Navas but don’t use him wisely
Real Madrid saw the opportunity and grabbed him up for a mere €10 million. He was another goalkeeper who was too good to be a backup, but that’s what he was bought for – to play second fiddle to club legend Iker Casillas.
His career graph took a straight leap to the top before a phase of stagnation that he didn’t deserve. As Casillas made some dreadful mistakes over the course of the season, he kept looking with patient eyes in hope for a chance to display his abilities.
Casillas was finally sold in the 2015 summer window and was replaced with Kiko Casilla. But this time, the latter was bought to become the second-choice for David De Gea. The former Atletico Madrid goalkeeper was all set to guard the sticks at the Bernabeu, with the Costa Rican going the other way, when the silliest of errors from both parties led to things staying as they were.
Navas proves his worth at Madrid after transfer saga
God had listened to Keylor Navas. He was at Real Madrid come September 1 and with a chance to show his capabilities. And my word, he has.
With 5 clean sheets on the trot this season – 4 in La Liga – Keylor Navas has equaled the record for the best-ever start by a Real Madrid goalkeeper in La Liga. The last time someone kept four clean sheets in a row from the start of the season was Miguel Angel in the 1975/76 season. And Navas has a good chance of breaking it.
In the last game against Granada, he made some crucial world class blocks to keep them from scoring. His interventions were the reason why Real Madrid got something out of the game. Karim Benzema’s goal might have won them the 3 points, but it was the former Saprissa goalkeeper’s performance that made sure Los Blancos lost none.
In the opening game against Sporting Gijon, he ensured that Real Madrid didn’t get off to a losing start by making a string of superb saves to keep them at bay. All this despite having to live through the fiasco of the deadline day that involved him and De Gea.
With him in goal for Madrid, it seems as though luck has found its way to the capital as opponents have either lobbed the ball high or missed an open goal – if not, then the linesman’s flag became the saviour. All this in the space of five games.
As De Gea still stands between the poles at Old Trafford, Real Madrid should be happy with the current scenario. Florentino Perez, for one, must be highly grateful to Navas and remorseful at his attitude towards him – the latter, though, is as impossible Diego Costa learning manners. With crucial saves in times of dire need, Navas has proven that he not only has what it takes to succeed at Real and become the difference between winning trophies or not, but also that the club are better off having him than De Gea.
Navas is a highly religious man. His devotion and faith for God can be deduced by his on-field behavior and speeches. And God always listens to the ardent devotees.
