The way the Colorado Rapids celebrated last Saturday after Rafael Navarro scored his 11th goal of the season said it all.
The one-touch laser to the far post in second-half stoppage time of a 4-1 win over CF Montréal garnered wide smiles — even wider than the one usually on Navarro’s face — and a group hug.
In the back of their minds, his teammates and coach Chris Armas knew a permanent signing was on the horizon. Wednesday, pen was put to paper, and Navarro will remain in burgundy through 2027 with an option for 2028.
“That (celebration) spoke volumes to how he’s liked in the locker room,” Rapids president Pádraig Smith told The Denver Post.
Navarro has 11 goals in 20 games this season, good for sixth in the MLS this year. His loan period was set to conclude at the end of the month. Now, the 24-year old Brazilian will stay in Commerce City for years to come.
“I’m very happy to be here,” Navarro told media members after Friday’s training through his translator and Rapids language specialist Andre Hilf. “All three of (Hilf, Armas and Smith) were fundamental for me and for my performance. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be in this situation and wouldn’t be performing the way I’m performing.”
Like much of the team last season, Navarro got into dangerous spots but only had one goal to show for it through 10 games. But what the organization saw was a goal-dangerous forward who was willing and able to defend, no matter the lows the team saw in its results.
With a revamped team around him and a coach in Armas who centers game plans around players like Navarro, goal-dangerous turned into goal-scoring in 2024. At one point, he scored in five straight games, one game shy of the franchise record.
“With Armas’ arrival, the style of play changed a lot and helped me very much,” Navarro said. “The coaching staff has been very supportive of me and has a lot of trust in me. They’ve told me what to do, what’s expected of me, playing inside and outside the box, so that has helped me a lot. I’m very grateful for it.”
At his position, Navarro is one of the best defenders in the league this year, too.
According to FBref, he is among the top 20% in a number of defensive metrics. It’s always been a part of Navarro’s game, but it has flourished in the MLS.
“Back in Brazil, (Palmeiras coach) Abel Ferreira also practiced this style of play, so it helped when I came here and played this style,” Navarro said. “If I’m not scoring goals, I can help the team in other ways, whether it’s defending or anything else, I have to help the team. That’s the way it has to be.”
For Smith, the decision to pursue a permanent deal wasn’t made the night Navarro scored his 11th, though. It wasn’t when he scored in five games straight.
Thoughts of keeping him came much earlier. As the deadline came closer, it was only a matter of when, not if, the signing would take place.
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“We felt very early on that Rafa was a player we wanted to keep on the team,” Smith said. “We knew he was a good fit culturally, we had seen that last year. That was further confirmed right from the beginning of preseason this year.
“Once he got on his run, it was like, ‘Look, this kid’s the full package.’ He’s just turned 24 years of age, so there’s still a lot of room for growth. He does everything we want from our possessions and everything we want from a character perspective. He’s a culture fit, works hard against the ball and can score goals at the MLS level. That’s a great package for us.”
Navarro said his personal goal for down the line is to win the Golden Boot in the MLS. In a normal year, he’d be on pace to do so, but 2024 has been far from it. Navarro’s 11 goals has him in sixth, five behind Real Salt Lake’s Cristian Arango, who leads the league with 16 goals just more than halfway through the season.
In the team’s future, Navarro has MLS Cup aspirations in mind. But now that he’s a permanent Rapid, his first test on the job will be a tough road match against LAFC this Saturday at 8:30 p.m.
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