January 1st 2025.
In a recent interview, Manchester City's head coach, Pep Guardiola, opened up about a decision he now regrets. He admitted that he made a mistake by letting Jesus Navas leave the team. Navas, who joined City in 2013 with a transfer fee of £15m from Sevilla, played a crucial role in the club's second Premier League title in 2014. However, after Guardiola's arrival in 2016, Navas was briefly converted into a right-back before being released after the 2016-17 season.
Navas returned to his boyhood club, Sevilla, where he became a legend at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium. He even lifted four Europa League trophies during his two spells with the club. As he announced his departure from Sevilla at the end of 2024, the club offered him a lifetime contract, allowing him to take on any role he desires with the team in the future. Before his emotional retirement, Navas, at the age of 38 and 298 days, became the oldest goalscorer in Sevilla's history.
During his final match, Navas received a standing ovation from the crowd and hugs from his teammates as he left the pitch in tears. In a farewell video shown to him after the game, Guardiola appeared and expressed his regret over letting Navas leave City. He thanked Navas for their time together and admitted that he made a mistake by not keeping him at the club for longer.
Guardiola also congratulated the Sevilla fans for having such an extraordinary player and person who truly embodies the spirit of the team. He urged them to keep Navas close and to never let him slip away. Despite being responsible for ending Navas's Premier League career, the player himself thanked Guardiola for the growth he experienced while playing for City. He also expressed gratitude towards former City coach Manuel Pellegrini for their time together and praised Guardiola as a fantastic coach with incredible ideas.
Navas's success was not limited to club football, as he also played a crucial role in Spain's 2010 World Cup win and two European Championship triumphs. Even after his retirement, the affection Sevilla fans have for Navas has only increased, especially after he donated his playing salary for his final months to the club's charity foundation. It is clear that Navas will always be remembered as a beloved and talented player by both City and Sevilla fans alike.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
