Manchester United and the fax that changed Keylor Navas’ Real Madrid career

Keylor Navas (San José, Costa Rica, 1986) has enjoyed a life that smiled on him because he earned it. As a child he sowed peace and hard work, and he reaped glory and honor.

Approaching 40, the goalkeeper who won three consecutive Champions League titles with Real Madrid has chosen to show, in a documentary, the humble origins that shaped him and his two decades as a professional. He debuted on November 6, 2005, with Deportivo Saprissa in Costa Rica and went on to win 29 trophies, playing alongside some of the finest footballers in history. Rising from the mud, he reached the summit with humility as his banner.

Speaking to AS from Mexico, he continues to produce improbable saves in goal for Pumas UNAM.

Keylor Navas chats to AS

– Gardel sang that 20 years is nothing…

– For me they’ve been two very beautiful decades, but it’s true they’ve flown by, with some wonderful moments and others not so good.

– At 39 you’re in peak condition. Do you still have plenty left in the tank?

– I’m enjoying it to the fullest and giving 100%, as always. My way of understanding soccer has always been about total commitment and taking care of myself as much as possible. If I hadn’t done that, I wouldn’t be where I am.

– Will your friends Modric and Cristiano retire before you?

– You never know, but I can vouch for both of them as great professionals. In soccer there are no secrets or coincidences. They’ve done things the right way and that’s why they’re still in such great shape at their age.

– Did you ever dream your story would turn out to be so extraordinary?

– I always dreamed big and imagined the best things, but God’s plans go further than the human mind can reach. My goal was to write my story as beautifully as possible, and it truly has been beautiful.

– What do you want to convey in the documentary?

– I want to show that beyond being soccer players we are human beings, with families and people around us who support us. We have feelings and emotions like everyone else. I focused on the spiritual side, believing that strength comes from above and having faith. That has helped sustain me.

– When and why did you decide to become a goalkeeper?

– I was about five or six. I went to watch my father, who played soccer, and in the game before his, a slightly older boy made an incredible save with his opposite hand. That moment marked me. I told my father I wanted to be a goalkeeper and to sign me up for a soccer school. I still have that image etched in my mind.

– You moved to San José at 14. Was it a drastic change for your family?

– I had that option at nine, but my parents wouldn’t let me. At 14 it was more like, “Either you let me go or I’m going.” I wanted to chase my dream and they supported me. I was innocent and didn’t realize what was coming, that I would be living in a very different way from what I was used to with them.

– You became a star in Costa Rica and moved to Albacete at 23, but it wasn’t a fairy tale…

– My compatriot Conejo, a former Albacete goalkeeper, opened that door for me and I’ll always be grateful. There were tough moments and the team was relegated, but I was at peace knowing I had given everything.

– Financially it was also very difficult…

– Yes, when there were 10 days left in the month, there was almost nothing in the account. I lived with my wife and my daughter Dani. One day, on her birthday, we took her to a toy store and asked what she wanted. My wife and I were crossing our fingers that she wouldn’t choose the bicycle because we couldn’t afford it. Thankfully she didn’t like bikes that much. The club had entered administration and my salary dropped considerably, and even before that it wasn’t much. We could pay the rent, buy some food and little else. At the end of each month we had to use my wife’s credit card to cover basic needs.

– Albacete were relegated, you went on loan to Levante and then came 2014. At the World Cup in Brazil you dazzled and offers started coming from everywhere…

– It was everything I had dreamed of. They were offering contracts with major financial improvements, paying for flights, the house, even giving me a car. I was extremely excited. The further the tournament went, the more interested clubs appeared. I couldn’t understand why Levante wouldn’t let me accept one of them.

– What did Quico Catalán, the club’s president at the time, tell you?

– He told me to trust him, that there was something he couldn’t tell me yet. For him it was simple, but I was watching opportunities I had always fought for pass by, and it was very hard to accept.

– And the reason was dressed in white…

– Yes. When the time came, he told me he had spoken with Florentino, that my release clause would be paid and that I would play for Real Madrid if I wanted. In that moment I forgot about everything else and said yes with my eyes closed.

– Did you also have an offer from Atlético de Madrid?

– I had two. One before the end of the 2014 season and another during the World Cup. I was very grateful to them, but the Real Madrid opportunity came up and that was the one that materialized.

– You arrived at a Real Madrid full of top-level stars…

– I have a photo saved from my first day at the training ground. I arrived very early, got changed, went to speak with Ancelotti and took a picture of myself in the elevator mirror wearing Real Madrid gear. I sent it to my wife right away. When I met all my teammates, it was very special because they welcomed me with humility and support. It was a great group on a human level.

– Casillas was there, an icon. Did it feel almost impossible to take his place?

– I had watched Iker since I was a child and admired and respected him so much, but above that was my dream. It was a privilege to be by his side, but my desire and effort were at the highest level, to learn from him and from Diego López and to improve so I could write my own story in soccer.

– Arbeloa was also in that squad…

– From the moment I arrived he looked out for me, helping and giving advice, not only on the field but personally. For someone new, that support is important. I have fond memories of him for taking on that role. Fate is curious – now he’s a coach with the first team and I hope things go very well for him because I’m very grateful.

– There’s a date you’ll never forget: August 31, 2015, the day the fax arrived too late for a move to Manchester United.

– They called me at home around four or five in the afternoon to discuss that option. The United coach, Van Gaal, spoke with me to convince me. I prayed with my family, asking God that whatever was best for us would happen according to His will. The fax didn’t arrive on time and that was God’s answer to our prayer. They were frantic hours, going back and forth to the airport, medical exams, reviewing contracts and meetings. When the deadline passed and the fax hadn’t arrived, everyone was stressed except my wife and me. I said goodbye to the Real Madrid executives who were negotiating and went home very calm, knowing something better would come.

– And it certainly did: three straight Champions League titles with you as starting goalkeeper…

– I don’t know if something like that will happen again, but beyond the sporting success, keeping a group of such quality united for so many years will be very hard to repeat. There are constant changes at clubs now, and our strong bond was important in achieving those accomplishments.

– How much did Zidane influence your professional career?

– A lot. The way he manages groups and the confidence he transmits to players is very hard to find. I’ve had very good coaches, but with Zidane, beyond the respect and admiration we all had for him, the way he spoke to us and treated us was incredible. We couldn’t give less than 200% in training in response to how he was. Tactically he was strong, studied opponents well and gave us the tools we needed to win.

– You witnessed the arrival of a young Vinicius at Madrid…

– We all immediately noticed something different in him. He had things to polish, but he was a diamond with a great attitude and desire to work. I’m not surprised by his level now because I saw him evolve and witnessed the hours Zidane invested in him after training. He gave him drills on technique, speed, finishing and other areas that helped him grow and develop his potential. That extra work was fundamental.

– Did it hurt to see what happened in Lisbon last Tuesday?

– It’s very sad because something like that shouldn’t happen to anyone in the world. When it happens to someone you know, like Vini, you identify with the feeling and the pain he might be going through at that moment. I hope that everyone who can do something will try, so that such contempt and comments have no place, not with Vini or anyone.

– Mbappé said Prestianni should no longer play in the Champions League…

– I don’t know what the right punishment would be, but there should be one. A strong sanction is necessary for people who make intentional mistakes. That’s not a one-off error but a thought carried inside, and when someone feels attacked, it comes out. There should be a punishment to prevent this from happening again.

– In 2018 Courtois arrived at Madrid. What did you think?

– Challenges have never scared me. I’ve always tried to fight and learn from every situation. He was signed to be the starter, the decision was already made, and I knew I had to be ready to earn my place. Because of that, I made the decision to leave Madrid so I could play.

– Is Courtois the best goalkeeper in history?

– Looking back to my childhood, Casillas and Buffon were the best. Neuer was also very good. Now the level has risen tremendously and Courtois is one of the most complete, that’s obvious.

– Where do you place yourself?

– It depends on the criteria. In terms of titles and career, I would be near the top, but in terms of personal taste, that’s up to each person. I believe I’ve been a very consistent goalkeeper, and staying at a high level for so long in key moments isn’t easy. It’s not simple to talk about yourself, but I think I could place myself among the best.

– In 2019 you went to PSG and played alongside Messi, Neymar and Mbappé after having shared a locker room with Cristiano, Benzema, Bale and Di María. Who impressed you the most?

– We’re talking about great stars and the best of the last decades, but in terms of talent on the field, Neymar impressed me tremendously. He did whatever he wanted with the ball, left foot or right. Watching him in games felt like when I played with my kids. Ney is an incredible player.

– You’ve won 29 trophies. Which one is the most special?

– My first Champions League, in 2016. It was what I had always dreamed of. It was a goal achieved and a dream fulfilled. At that moment I didn’t know if I would ever get another opportunity like that and I enjoyed it immensely. And it was against Atlético, a fierce rival, which made it even more special.

– Will you return to live in Madrid when you retire?

– Yes. I’m going to play a while longer because I feel very good, but my family and I plan to return to Madrid because we love it. I hope I can be linked to Real Madrid in some way in the future, given the past I had there. It would be very special.

– How would you persuade people to watch your documentary?

– It’s something human, told through the perspectives of my friends, my family, my teammates and my people in Costa Rica, as well as my own. I like it very much because I’ve been able to see beyond what I felt on the field.

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