After forced his exit from the old boys from the Argentinian side Newell, Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas returns to the Concacaf region to become a member of Pumas. The Estadio Olímpico Universitario has a special place in the memory of Navas, because it was the site of one of the earliest milestones in his career.
In 2005, Pumas reached the final of the Concacaf Champions' Cup, opposite Costa Rican powerhouse Saprissa, then managed by the legendary Hernán Medford. Saprissa had earned their place in the final after eliminating Monterrey van Miguel Herrera.
A Champions' Cup winner at the expense of Pumas
In the first stage, Saprissa took the lead with goals of Christian Bolaños and Gabriel Badilla. In the return bone in Mexico City, Ronald Gómez expanded the benefit before Joaquín del Olmo and Leandro Augusto scored for Pumas. Despite the comeback attempt, Saprissa kept aggregated to win 3-2 and claimed the Concacaf title and a ticket for the FIFA Club World Cup.
Navas was part of that historic moment for Costa Rican football, present in the Estadio Olímpico Universitario -although he served as a back -up for veteran -goalkeeper Francisco Porras.
Navas would win six competition titles with Saprissa and then owned by the Mexican businessman Jorge Vergara.
Now, 20 years later, Navas returns to Ciudad Universitaria – but this time as a global icon, who won it all with Real Madrid and Paris Saint -Germain. The 38-year-old is expected to arrive in Mexico, to undergo medical and to complete his contract with Pumas.