Featured Image Credit: Sky Sports
Topics: Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, Sevilla, Premier League, Transfers, Football
Ben McCrum
Topics: Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, Sevilla, Premier League, Transfers, Football
Pep Guardiola has named the one surprising player that he regrets selling during his time at Manchester City.
Since joining City in 2016, Guardiola has enjoyed one of the most successful periods in English football, winning an incredible 18 trophies in just eight years.
In his time with the Premier League club, the 53-year-old has brought some of the best players in the world to England, including Erling Haaland, Rodri and Ederson.
But there is one player that Guardiola already had when he joined City who he has now admitted that he regrets selling.
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Having joined the club in 2013, Jesus Navas made 183 appearances for Manchester City but was deemed surplus to requirements by Guardiola, who decided to sell the defender in 2017.
The Catalan manager tried to convert Navas into a right-back in order to keep him at the club, but ultimately decided to allow him to return to his boyhood club Sevilla on a free transfer following the end of his contract.
And seven years later, Guardiola admitted that he wishes that he had decided to extend Navas' contract while speaking in a video message played after he played his final match before retiring from football.
Speaking in the video, Guardiola 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."
After playing his final match as a professional footballer at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium last month, Navas was awarded with a standing ovation from the crowd and hugs from his emotional teammates.
As a recognition of his commitments to Sevilla, who he helped win four Europa League trophies, club president Jose Maria del Nido Carrasco offered Navas a lifetime contract which will allow him to take on any role with the club in the future.