Keylor Navas forces move to Mexico after short stint in Rosario
The departure of Keylor Navas has been confirmed by Newell’s Old Boys with the club announcing on Tuesday that the legendary Costa Rican had been sold to Pumas of Mexico for a total fee of $2million USD.
The 38-year-old had arrived in Argentina in early 2025, choosing to play for Newell’s after speaking to Lionel Messi. He signed a 2-year contract but rumours that he wanted out of that deal started to emerge in recent weeks while he was away playing in the CONCACAF Gold Cup with his national team.
Pumas of Mexico were on the hunt for a new goalkeeper and made Navas their number one choice. Once he became aware of their interest, he did all in his power to make the move happen, including refusing to be on the bench after Newell’s manager Ogro Fabbiani decided to drop him in favour of young keeper Williams Barlasina, who had just signed a new deal at the club.
An official statement released by Newell’s confirming the sale to Pumas was clear in accusing Navas of abandoning his commitment to the team and some fans verbally abused him when he came out to warm up before the 2-1 defeat to Banfield on Sunday.
Although his short stint ends on a sour note, Navas was nothing short of sensational in his 15-game run as Newell’s number one at the backend of the last campaign, bolstering the fortunes of a side who were free-falling before the appointment of Fabbiani as coach.
At the start of April, he was man of the match in three consecutive games for the Lepers and made vital saves in all of his 15 games, with just 11 goals conceded in a team that had only kept one clean sheet in the 12 games before Navas signed.
Rumours are now swirling as to who will replace Navas at Newell’s, with former Manchester United stopper Sergio Romero in the frame after being frozen out at Boca.
