Former Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas has explained that current manager Alvaro Arbeloa was always in contact with other players even before he became manager. The Costa Rica star spoke about what Zinedine Zidane did well.
Navas was part of the Real Madrid side that reached the top flight of the Champions League between 2016 and 2018, a generation in its last legs at the club. Only Dani Carvajal was part of that side too, but Arbeloa won it in 2014 and 2016, continuing a streak of winning experience in Europe. Navas told Diario AS in an interview that he was already looking after others in the dressing room as a seasoned player.
“From the moment I arrived, he was looking after me, helping me and giving me advice, not only on a sporting level but also on a personal level. For a young person, that support is important, and I have good memories when he took that role. Fate is funny; now he is the coach of the first team, and I wish him all the best because I am very grateful.”
‘Very hard to find’ – Navas to Zinedine Zidane
Arbeloa also played under Zidane Zidane, who Navas speaks highly of. The French icon, along with Carlos Ancelotti, had a momentary touch with the dressing room.
“[He influenced me] There is a lot. The way he manages the teams and the confidence he instills in the players is very difficult to find. I have had very good coaches, but with Zidane, apart from the respect and admiration we all had for him, the way he spoke to us and treated us was amazing. We couldn’t give less than 200% in training to match the way he works. In addition, he was smart, read the opponents well and gave us the tools we needed to win.”
‘Zidane invested hours in Vinicius’
Navas was also close to the arrival of Vinicius as an 18-year-old, when he started at Real Madrid. He explained that Zidane, even if his breakthrough was ultimately under Ancelotti, has his own role in the success of the Brazilian player.
“We all noticed something different about him right away. He had things to polish, but he was a diamond in a difficult situation with a good attitude and hard work. It doesn’t surprise me that he is at this level now because I have seen him improve and I saw the hours Zidane invested in him after training. He gave him training that focused on techniques, speed, finishing, and other additional aspects that helped him develop fully.”
Navas on the Vinicius-Prestianni incident
The talk of the week in Spanish football is the alleged racial abuse from Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni towards Vinicius Junior. Navas was of the opinion that the pre-arrangement situation was very serious.
“It’s very sad because something like this shouldn’t happen to anyone in the world. When it happens to someone you know like Vini, you sympathize and understand the pain they may be facing. I hope that all of us who can do something will try to make sure that that kind of insult and those kinds of comments have no place, not for Vini, not for anyone.”
“I don’t know what a fair punishment would be, but there has to be something. Stronger punishment is needed for people who make mistakes on purpose. That’s not just one mistake, but an inner thought, and when someone feels attacked, take it out. There has to be a punishment to prevent this from happening again.”
UEFA has opened an investigation into the incident, in cooperation with Real Madrid. If Prestianni is found guilty of racial abuse, he will be handed a minimum ten-game ban. With his shirt over his mouth, it seems difficult for evidence to be gathered, and instead it will depend on the testimony of Vinicius and Kylian Mbappe.
