Football
Dermot Corrigan, Madrid correspondent 8y

Keylor Navas 'stronger' after Real Madrid to Man United move collapse

Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas says the adversity he has faced in his career, particularly during recent times, has helped to make him stronger.

Navas was close to joining Manchester United on the final day of last summer's transfer window, having been included in a swap deal which would have brought David De Gea to the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.

Navas went to Madrid's airport to take a private plane to England, but the deal broke down in circumstances still disputed by both Madrid and United.

Since then, the 28-year-old has started each of Madrid's games so far in 2015-16 season, conceding just twice in nine appearances, and saving both penalties he has faced.

Speaking at a news conference ahead of Costa Rica's friendly at home to South Africa on Friday, Navas said: "I have not had anything easy anywhere, because as they say 'the fish had already been sold' and I had to swim against the current. But when you do swim against the current you come out stronger."

Navas joined Madrid for €10 million after impressing at former club Levante in La Liga and at the 2014 World Cup with his country, but spent his first season at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu as second choice behind then-club captain Iker Casillas.

"Often you arrive in a place where there are people who have been there a long time, and you must work and climb up step by step to win your chance," he said. "I have had to wait just one year to have the chance, because other people have had to wait longer. God has prepared me to be at my best physical and mental level in key moments."

Navas took a long time to come to prominence in Europe, and even after moving to Albacete in 2010 he was still a reserve behind Uruguay international Gustavo Munua at Levante right up until the summer of 2013.

"Thanks to God I am doing good work now," Navas said. "I have worked hard for a long time to take advantage of opportunities when they come along. I never go out onto the pitch thinking in doing well so somebody can see me. Football is my work and my passion."

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