Ukrainian CS2 coach Mykhailo “Kane” Blahin has revealed that he once tried to sell rising star Davyd “Dawy” Bibik to Natus Vincere. According to Kane, the deal never happened because NAVI could not afford the price. This detail is interesting because it shows how close Dawy came to joining one of the world’s most famous esports organizations, and it raises new questions about NAVI’s current struggles.
The story became even more interesting when Kane issued a correction shortly after his first statement. He clarified that NAVI actually saw the price as too high, rather than simply lacking the funds. This small but important change reframes the whole situation.
Background on Dawy and Kane
Davyd “Dawy” Bibik currently plays for Inner Circle, a British organization that entered CS2 in January 2025. He joined the roster now known as Inner Circle back on January 2, 2025, when it was still competing as Team Next Level (TNL), a Ukrainian club. On September 25, 2025, Inner Circle officially acquired the entire TNL roster.
Kane himself has deep ties to NAVI. He worked as the club’s head coach for CS:GO, and during his time there, he helped the team win the PGL Major Kraków 2017 and reach the final of the FACEIT Major 2018. He left the role after BLAST Pro Series Moscow in 2019. Later, he led TNL as CEO before moving to Inner Circle. Because of this history, his comments about NAVI carry extra weight in the community.
What Kane Actually Said
In his original Telegram post, Kane wrote in full:
Dawy is the best anchor in the ‘connector’ role on Anubis in 2026. I offered him to NAVI back in 2025. It cost a lot, but the player’s potential was obvious even then. This was an investment for years ahead — NAVI couldn’t afford it. The next stage in Ukrainian CS development will come when Ukrainian rosters start beating NAVI at international tournaments.
Shortly after, Kane posted a follow-up correcting himself:
I need to make a small correction to my previous post. ‘NAVI considered the asking price unjustifiably high, and that’s exactly why they decided not to pursue this transfer.’ I apologize for choosing a more clickbait-style wording in the previous post.
NAVI’s Difficult Season Adds Context
This story lands during a rough stretch for NAVI. The club suffered a heavy loss to Legacy at the Esports World Cup 2026 and lost its debut match at BLAST Open Porto 2026. NAVI is currently playing in the lower bracket against paiN, considered one of the tournament’s underdogs. If NAVI loses that match too, the team may need to consider roster changes in the middle of the season.
Why This Matters
Kane’s revelation, and his quick correction, highlight how transfer decisions can shape a team’s fortunes long before results show up on stage. Whether NAVI’s choice to skip Dawy was about budget or about value, it adds another layer to the club’s ongoing search for answers this season. For Ukrainian CS2 fans, the story also fits into a bigger narrative: watching whether homegrown talent like Dawy can eventually help beat NAVI on the biggest stages, exactly as Kane predicted.
