Keylor Navas, hero or villain for Real Madrid?

Rarely does a player who leaves Real Madrid do so because they absolutely want to, you can pick a very small number of cases over the last decade where that has been true, yet for Keylor Navas you could probably argue it was as he prepares to face his former team on Wednesday.

A late swap deal involving Alphonse Areola was rushed through on transfer deadline day with Keylor refusing to spend another season as backup to Thibaut Courtois, yet prior to the Belgian's arrival the Costa Rican had never even considered leaving the club he had grown to love.

This is what makes Keylor's appearance for PSG on Wednesday so fascinating, will he be out for a modicum of revenge? Will he be desperate to show those in power at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu that they made the wrong choice?

In order to understand the situation fully, we have to follow a timeline of events starting in May.

1. Keylor waves farewell to the Bernabeu

On May 19, the Costa Rican said a public farewell to fans at the end of the match. It seemed certain he would leave and there was a huge ovation, but events quickly cascaded in an alternate direction.

2. Real Madrid don't give up on Keylor and he is set to stay.

During the summer it was obvious that the goalkeeping situation had taken a turn, Los Blancos wouldn't allow Keylor to leave for free and the player is stuck. He returns to action in pre-season and is convinced he will stay.

3. Real Madrid allow Luca Zidane and Andriy Lunin to leave.

Further proof that Keylor would be staying came when the two other backup keepers were allowed to leave. At this point there was only 18 days before the window closed.

4. Courtois is Zidane's starter.

Zinedine Zidane made it very clear that the Belgian was his first choice as he plays in the LaLiga Santander opener. Navas now knows that his only football will come in the Copa del Rey, unless there is an injury.

5. Keylor demands to leave.

On August 21, MARCA made clear that Keylor had requested a transfer as PSG had made him a fine offer, something which Zidane denies at first.

6. Real Madrid have to scramble to find a replacement

With Lunin loaned out, Zidane needs a backup keeper and the situation is complicated by how little time is left in the market.

7. The deadline arrives and so does Areola.

Finally. an agreement is found with PSG to loan Areola for a season as part of the 15 million euro sale of Keylor, a deal which suits all parties given the timing.

8. Fate brings Los Merengues and Keylor together once more.

Keylor, Real Madrid and the Champions League will forever be linked with each other. He was between the posts for the hat-trick of triumphs under Zidane's watch, yet the draw for the Group Stage of the 2019/20 edition of the competition has paired him with his old club.

He will be incredibly motivated and in the eyes of Madrid fans can go from a hero to a villain in 90 minutes on September 18.