On Sunday, speculation swirled that Pumas had clinched a deal for former Real Madrid star Keylor Navas. The trigger? The Costa Rican goalkeeper was left out of Newell’s Old Boys’ matchday squad for their Argentine league opener against Independiente - not even making the bench.
South American journalists quickly picked up on the omission, suggesting that Navas had played his last game for Newell’s and was on the verge of heading to Mexico to join Los Auriazules.
The 38-year-old’s absence from the stadium entirely - he was not even spotted in the VIP boxes - gave Pumas fans a glimmer of hope. After a lackluster showing against Santos Laguna on Saturday, the team is in desperate need of a commanding presence between the posts. With reports circulating and the situation in Argentina unfolding, it seemed like only a matter of time before Navas would be donning the blue and gold.
But then came a twist - and it came straight from Navas himself. Hours later, the veteran keeper posted an Instagram story that caught everyone’s attention.
Pumas target cites “terrible day” blighted by illness
Navas wrote that he had been struck down by a “terrible day” of “vomiting and stomach discomfort“, adding: “Thank God the team got the 3 points. Now it’s time to follow the medical advice and recover as soon as possible! Thanks to everyone for the messages of support!”
An attempt to put pressure on Newell’s?
With that, Navas’ immediate future remains uncertain. Reports suggest that Pumas are pushing hard to make the transfer happen, but Newell’s are not making negotiations easy. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether the move materializes.
Transfer insider César Luis Merlo added fuel to the fire, reporting that Navas has already informed Newell’s of his desire to move to Mexico, lured by an offer that’s financially too good to pass up. Merlo also hinted that the illness the Costa Rican cited may have been a strategic move - a bit of pressure to nudge the Argentine club into opening the door for his exit.