Florentino and his ability to play to the gallery
One of the distinguished Real Madrid supporter groups is called ‘Ramón Mendoza’ (after the former chairman of the club) and are based in Alcalá de Henares, famous for being the birth-place of writer Miguel Cervantes. Each year, the president of the group Efigenio Albadalejo endeavours to put together an annual event for the group and succeeds in securing a key member of the current squad to speak to the gathering. Pepe was the guest of honour a few years ago and the Portuguese defender used the platform to voice his concern about his contractual situation with the club. Former player Raúl was also present the same evening and had to make a u-turn after talking about a Barça league win with a "Hala Madrid y nada mas" getting him out of a pickle.
Let them all talk...
At last Sunday's event, Keylor Navas was the special guest and appeared with Raúl and club president Florentino Perez. The president was full of praise for the Costa Rican goalkeeper who tried to dispel talk about the uncertainty surrounding the goalkeeping position at the club by opening his speech with: "they can say what they want....". Keylor watched on with a touch of scepticism in his eyes remembering the time where, just three years ago he was at the Torrejón, airbase in the south of the Spanish capital abut to board a private plane with Manchester as the destination, some hours before the botched De Gea transfer attempt. Just this year alone Perez was pushing for the acquisition of Athletic stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga with the deal almost concluded before Zidane's ultimate insistence that he did not require another keeper saw the move come to nothing.
Soldier on
Keylor has carried on regardless, putting on a brave face on Sunday as the club president assures the audience that his long term future at the club is a guarantee claiming, "you´ll be with us for many more years to come". He will, only for as long as Zidane decides that he doesn't want someone new between the posts. Whatever they say, Keylor is well aware of his situation at the club and has been highly professional in just getting on with playing his game. Sitting in the very same seat that Pepe was in just two years ago may not be the best if omens for the Costa Rican keeper but the 31-year-old keeper is more than aware that his future and destiny is in his hands.
