Former Real Madrid goalkeeper confirms being approached by Barcelona – “Saw it as a compliment” | OneFootball

Former Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas spoke to El Larguero recently, where he talked about various topics involving Real Madrid and the world of football.

However, the biggest highlight of the conversation was when the Costa Rican spoke about how Barcelona approached him earlier in the season.

Keylor Navas confirms Barcelona interest

During the first half of the campaign, shortly after Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s injury, Barcelona were desperately looking for a new goalkeeper.

It was at that when the Catalans approached Keylor Navas to take up a temporary role at the club, confirms the Costa Rican.

“My name was heard around here. But it’s always complicated. Did they call me? My agent. I saw it as a compliment,” Navas told El Larguero.

Barcelona tried to sign Kaylor Navas. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Navas was a free agent then, so it would have been convenient for Barcelona to snap him up on a short-term contract.

With 162 competitive appearances for Real Madrid and three Champions League titles, Navas’ vast experience, coupled with his Real Madrid past, could have made the move to Catalonia quite interesting.

However, the Catalans ended up bringing back Wojciech Szczesny from retirement – a move that later turned out to be a masterstroke.

The Pole has lost only one match as a Barcelona player this season, notably emerging as one of the best-performing goalkeepers in Europe this year.

Navas, in fact, hailed Szczesny’s performance in the same interview, stating, “Surprised by Szczesny? He has not lost his goalkeeping ability; it all depends on how patient the team is in giving him the opportunity.”

Navas, for his part, is currently plying his trade for Lionel Messi’s youth club Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina in January.