Pep Guardiola, Manchester City manager, recently admitted to regretting his decision to let Jesus Navas leave the club. The Spanish international made a significant impact during his tenure at the Etihad Stadium and has since become a legend at Sevilla.
Jesus Navas joined Manchester City in 2013 from Sevilla for £15m. He made 183 appearances for Man City and played an instrumental role in helping the club secure their second Premier League title in 2014.
However, Guardiola attempted to reconvert Navas into a right-back during his first season as manager before sanctioning his departure after the 2016-17 campaign.
Return to Sevilla
Navas returned to his boyhood club Sevilla and quickly re-established himself as a key player. His performance was so impressive that he lifted four Europa League trophies across two spells with the club.
In an emotional announcement, Navas revealed that he would be ending his long association with Sevilla by late 2024. However, Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido Carrasco offered him a lifetime contract which allows him to take on any role of choice within the club going forward.
At age 38 and with 298 days under his belt, he became the oldest goalscorer in Sevilla’s history shortly before retiring. His final match was marked by standing ovations from fans and emotional farewells from teammates.
Guardiola's admission of regret
Guardiola appeared in a farewell video for Navas after his final match for Sevilla where he confessed that letting him leave Manchester City was indeed regrettable. Despite being responsible for ending Navas’ Premier League career, there seemed no hard feelings between them as evidenced by Navas thanking Guardiola following his exit from Etihad.
Pep Guardiola, Manchester City manager, said:
‘Thank you for the gift of having spent a year together, you don’t know how much I regret letting you go. I would have loved for you to stay longer here, but sometimes you make mistakes.
‘Congratulations to all Sevillistas for having had such an extraordinary player and a person who defines Sevillismo. For many years to come, Sevillistas, don’t let him slip away. Keep him close and with all of you. Farewell.’
Navas also enjoyed a successful international career, helping Spain win the World Cup in 2010 and two European Championship trophies. His popularity among Sevilla fans only increased after he donated his playing salary for his final months before retirement to the team’s charity foundation. Jesus Navas' departure from Manchester City is seen as a missed opportunity by Pep Guardiola. However, his return to Sevilla not only re-established him as a club legend but also allowed him to make significant contributions on and off the pitch. His story serves as an example of how players can have impactful careers even after leaving top-tier clubs like Manchester City.
