The rumor mill is a means of keeping fans invested in a sport, even if it simply has nothing to do with the sport. People love gossip and they love to think about how to improve things, even if they need no improving.

There was a time before the internet, where rumors did not carry as much weight. But now it seems that any rumor is as good as the truth. Eventually.

The biggest rumor circulating these days has to do with Real Madrid's goaltending.

A decade ago, Real Madrid's goaltending would be one area no one would venture to question. Two words were always embedded in everyone's mind: Iker Casillas. He was the number one. The franchise goal. An icon. San Iker. And eventually, the captain.

Now, Casillas goes by one word: Scapegoat. Everything wrong with the team is Casillas' fault. Karim Benzema fails to score goals and, somehow, Casillas will be at fault. Sergio Ramos makes a bad tackle or loses his defender and Casillas is at fault for not captaining his defenders properly.

Granted, Casillas has not helped his own cause. He has given up a plethora of poor goals for Madrid in 2014-15 and his recent gaffe for Spain against Slovakia has completed his transformation into a punchline. Once known as the benchmark for all goalies, Spain's most celebrated captain has become the reference for poor goaltending.

Safe to say that the latest rumor hitting the mill revolves around Madrid trying to bring in a new keeper. And that man is none other than the Spaniard looking to replace Casillas on Spain's national side -- David de Gea.

Rumor has it that Madrid is looking to purchase the 23-year-old from Manchester United to replace Casillas as soon as possible.

This might make Madrid fans salivate, but it makes absolutely no sense for two reasons.

First off, Manchester United would be silly to give away a goalie that is still young and yet to enter his prime. The team is rebuilding (quickly admittedly) and De Gea has been one of its top players in the resurgence. Who is actually going to come in and do a better job than he is? The team has already invested so much time and patience in De Gea that it would be a monumental disaster to let him go, unless Madrid is willing to fork over what Juventus paid for Gianluigi Buffon ($76 million).

But it makes no sense for Real Madrid, either. And here is the second reason in just two words -- Keylor Navas.

The Costa Rican is already on Madrid's roster and he is arguably better than De Gea and Casillas. His reflexes are second to none and he is in the prime of his career.  At age 27, he has more than a few good years left in him. He has been terrific for the team and gracefully accepted his role as a backup. De Gea might have more upside in the long run, but Navas is a sure deal. With him in goal, Madrid would be secure for years to come. Why would you betray a player who has done his duty and performed when called upon?

Manchester could be inclined to do the deal if Madrid would ship Navas the other way, but why would Madrid bother to buy Navas to begin with if the end game were to get De Gea?

Stranger things have happened in soccer and Florentino Perez's endless thirst for marketable players has not ended, so this is completely possible. De Gea would be a huge success from a marketing perspective in Madrid--especially since he is bound to be Spain's new number one -- while Navas' star has waned since the World Cup, mainly because he has been on Madrid's bench for all but one game thus far.

Should Madrid get David de Gea or is Keylor Navas already a good enough replacement for Iker Casillas? Let us know in the comments section below.

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