Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas has recreated legendary Colombian stopper Rene Higuita’s iconic scorpion kick save in training. Such was the eerily similar nature of the save that Higuita took to Twitter himself to thank Navas for the ‘tribute’.
The footage would have been consigned to only the memory of Real Madrid players if not for Adidas. As part of their ‘Gameday Plus’ series on YouTube, we were treated to a behind the scened look at Navas and his Real Madrid teammates practicing their famous moves.
Not that Navas’ save was reheased however, Marcelo and other Real Madrid players were taking aim at Navas with a series of shots, and the Madrid left-back sensed an opportunity to fool his keeper and lobbed the ball over him.
However, Navas was equal to his teammate’s intentions and reacted quickly, instinctively pulling off Higuita's acrobatic scorpion kick to repel the ball away from goal.
Marcelo was suitably impressed and used Twitter to applaud his teammate, posting a minute video of Navas’ skills in action.
What was sure to have made Navas’s day however, is that Colombian keeper Rene Higuita, who first performed the move against England in an international friendly, applauded the keeper on Twitter and thanked the Costa Rican for his tribute.
Higuita first performed the move in Wembley, when a match between England and Colombia looked headed for a goalless draw. Jamie Redknapp attempted to lob Higuita from range, but the Colombian brought life to this drab game by pulling off one of the most iconic saves in history, jumping up and repelling the ball away with his legs behind his back.
Coupled with a couple of key saves in El Clasico, this has been a good week for Keylor Navas.
