BARCELONA: Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas was reduced to tears after being left waiting at the airport ready to join Manchester United when the move fell through on transfer deadline day.
The Costa Rican was to be the makeweight in a deal between Manchester United and Real that would have seen David De Gea return to Spain.
But it collapsed because of not being officially registered before the close of the Spanish transfer window on Aug. 31.
“I was waiting at the airport in a private room which was what I was told I had to do,” Navas told Spanish radio.
“It was at a point where every five minutes things changed: that I should go to the airport, that I shouldn’t go. There was nothing clear and I wasn’t relaxed until everything was over.
“When everything passed and I went to my room with my wife, I started to think about what happened, I just cracked up.
“They were moments that I hope will not happen again because they were not good.
“I cried with my wife and decided that I needed to sort it out so I went to speak with the president (Florentino Perez).”
Following the breakdown in the deal, De Gea signed a new contract for United while Navas, given the backing of the Madrid club, has gone on to make a record-breaking start to the season for Real and is yet to concede a goal after five games.
He has already bettered the previous best start by a Real keeper when Miguel Angel kept four clean sheets at the start of the 1975-76 season.
There were also four at the start of the 1957-58 campaign but then two keepers, Rogelio Dominguez and Juanito Alonso, were used.
“I never wanted to leave Madrid. Since I arrived it was my dream to be here,” Navas added.
“At the same time I had the fact that I was not able to play three consecutive games and that was a problem.”
He aims to extend his record run against Athletic Bilbao in La Liga on Wednesday with Real on 10 points, two behind unbeaten leaders Barcelona, who face Celta Vigo.
Real’s Navas reduced to tears over collapsed United deal
Real’s Navas reduced to tears over collapsed United deal
Patriots reach Super Bowl in blizzard-hit 10-7 win over Broncos
LOS ANGELES, US: Quarterback Drake Maye led the New England Patriots to their first Super Bowl appearance since the glory days of predecessor Tom Brady with a blizzard-ravaged 10-7 win over the Denver Broncos Sunday.
In a low-scoring AFC Championship game played out in brutal conditions, Maye rushed for a first-half touchdown, and painstakingly drove the ball downfield after the break to set up a decisive field goal.
No further scoring was possible in the 21 degrees F storm, with the Patriots’ white uniforms barely visible as players slipped and slid across the snow.
“We battled the elements,” said Maye.
“These conditions, it’s not great throwing the football. But hey, we do what we need to do... We’re off to the Super Bowl. Let’s go!“
The Patriots will play either the Los Angeles Rams or the Seattle Seahawks at Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California, on February 8.
The win cements a remarkable resurgence for the Patriots.
After the dominant era of the Brady dynasty that yielded six Super Bowl titles, New England have endured a painful rebuild, going 3-14 in both the previous two seasons.
But under new head coach Mike Vrabel they were a revelation this season, winning 17 games so far and topping the tough AFC East for the first time since 2019.
‘Costly’
Prior to kickoff, all eyes were on the Broncos’ perennial backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham, who had not thrown a pass in competitive football for two years.
The 29-year-old was thrust into the spotlight when Broncos’ first-choice Bo Nix broke his ankle in the dying moments of last weekend’s victory over the Buffalo Bills.
An understandably nervy Stidham was swiftly and repeatedly blitzed by the Patriots, throwing a wild incomplete pass on an opening drive that ended with a punt.
Moments later his epic 54-yard hurl to Marvin Mims Jr paid off spectacularly, caught deep downfield. Stidham then found Courtland Sutton for the opening TD.
Stidham grew in confidence as the first half progressed, without adding to the lead. The Broncos declined a straightforward field goal attempt at 4th&1 on New England’s 14-yard line, and gave up a turnover on downs.
Then disaster struck, as Stidham fumbled on the Broncos’ 14-yard line for a turnover. Maye, who had been struggling badly, rushed for a touchdown and a 7-7 half-time score.
The fumble would prove “costly,” Broncos head coach Sean Payton admitted after the game.
‘Sick’
The dense snowstorm descended on Denver at the break, making passing difficult and forcing both teams to rely on their run games.
An attritional 18-play drive lasting nearly 10 minutes led to a field goal and slender lead for New England.
The conditions became almost comically treacherous, with multiple players slipping and sliding on nearly every barely-visible play.
Both sides missed multiple field goals in swirling cross-winds, including one blocked by Patriots tackle Leonard Taylor’s fingertips.
With the two-minute warning looming, Stidham attempted a hugely risky 30-yard pass and gave away an interception that proved vital in whiteout conditions.
“It was good at first, and then snow started coming down, wind blowing, I couldn’t see,” said defensive tackle Milton Williams.
“I’m coughing. I’m probably sick right now. But none of that matters. All that matters is that we won the game and we’re going to the Bowl.”
The Patriots, who already boasted the most Super Bowl appearances with 11, will now have their twelfth showing on American football’s biggest stage, and a chance to vie for a record seventh Lombardi trophy.
Vrabel, who won three Super Bowls playing alongside Brady for the Patriots, would be the first person to win the sport’s ultimate prize as a player and coach for the same franchise.
“I won’t win it — it’ll be the players that will win the game, I promise you,” said Vrabel.
