NAVI Considered Bringing Back m0NESY in 2022: s1mple Was Ready to Change Roles

Former Natus Vincere analyst Vsevolod "Pradiggg" Plotnikov has revealed a surprising transfer plan from 2022. According to him, NAVI seriously considered buying back Ilya "m0NESY" Osipov from G2 Esports. To make the young AWPer's return possible, Oleksandr "s1mple" Kostyliev was reportedly willing to give up the AWP and switch to a rifler role. However, issues related to the team's national flag ultimately prevented the potential transfer.

"1. NAVI Considered Bringing Back m0NESY in 2022: s1mple Was Ready to Change Roles","1.1. NAVI Wanted to Bring m0NESY Back From G2 Esports","1.2. Why Did m0NESY's Return to NAVI Never Happen?","1.3. How Did m0NESY's Career Develop After Leaving NAVI?","1.4. Could s1mple and m0NESY Have Played Together?"

NAVI Wanted to Bring m0NESY Back From G2 Esports

Vsevolod "Pradiggg" Plotnikov shared previously unknown details about Natus Vincere's transfer plans. According to the former analyst, the organization discussed the possibility of bringing m0NESY back in 2022, shortly after his move to G2 Esports.

One of the most interesting aspects of the potential transfer was s1mple's attitude toward the deal. At the time, Kostyliev was considered one of the best AWPers in professional Counter-Strike, yet he was reportedly willing to change his usual role to play alongside m0NESY.

As Pradiggg explained, s1mple considered switching to a rifler position to allow the young player to take over primary AWP duties.

This would have given NAVI an unusual combination of two star players, with one continuing as the team's main AWPer while the other focused on rifle-based gameplay.

Why Did m0NESY's Return to NAVI Never Happen?

According to the former analyst, the main obstacle to m0NESY's return was the issue surrounding the team's national flag.

In 2022, NAVI faced significant changes related to the political situation and the composition of its roster. The organization was reconsidering its approach to building the team, and the nationalities of its players became a sensitive topic.

Pradiggg explained that the possibility of changing the team's national flag became a major sticking point during discussions about the potential transfer.

However, the analyst did not reveal details about negotiations with G2 Esports, the possible buyback fee, or the specific conditions under which m0NESY could have returned to NAVI.

As a result, it remains unclear how close the organizations actually came to reaching an agreement.

How Did m0NESY's Career Develop After Leaving NAVI?

Ilya "m0NESY" Osipov played for NAVI Junior from January 2020 until January 2022. During that period, he established himself as one of the most promising young AWPers in Counter-Strike.

In early 2022, he joined G2 Esports, where he gained the opportunity to compete at major international tournaments and gradually established himself among the world's leading professional players.

In April 2025, m0NESY left G2 and joined Team Falcons, continuing his career at the highest competitive level of CS2.

Meanwhile, NAVI followed a different path. In 2023, the organization significantly rebuilt its roster, shifting toward an international lineup. Later, s1mple also departed from the team's active roster.

Shox Suggests NAVI Could Make Roster Changes if They Fail to Qualify for PGL Major Singapore 2026

Could s1mple and m0NESY Have Played Together?

The story shared by Pradiggg suggests that the possibility of seeing two star AWPers on the same NAVI roster was seriously discussed.

What makes the situation particularly interesting is s1mple's reported willingness to change roles. Such a decision could have significantly influenced the team's playing style, as both players are primarily known for their exceptional AWP skills.

However, the plans never materialized, and m0NESY continued his career outside NAVI.

Four years later, this story remains an interesting example of how a single unrealized transfer could have changed the course of professional Counter-Strike. Nevertheless, the information about the negotiations is based on the former analyst's account and has not been independently confirmed by the organizations involved.