6 hours Ago By [email protected] (Tom Victor)
Jesus Navas cut an emotional figure as he took to the field for the final time as a professional football on Sunday. Navas , who won the Premier League with Manchester City in 2013-14, returned to boyhood club Sevilla in 2017. He enjoyed a late-season resurgence with the Andalusian side, returning to the Spain national team in 2019 and becoming La Roja's oldest ever tournament player when he featured at Euro 2024.
The winger-turned-right-back is also Sevilla's all-time record appearance holder. However, a substitute appearance away to Real Madrid on Sunday was his 705th and last for the club. Sevilla were beaten at the Bernabeu, with Kylian Mbappe opening the scoring in a 4-2 Real Madrid win.
Towards the end, though, all attention turned towards Navas. The 39-year-old took to the field in place of Belgian teenager Stanis Idumbo Muzambo, who was born after Navas had already played 30 senior games for Sevilla. He was visibly emotional as he acknowledged the fans.
"There have been many moments, many emotions and today was one more," he said after the farewell appearance. "The affection from everyone has been impressive. I have achieved many things and many titles in my career, but with everything I enjoyed with my people and as a Sevilla player, saying goodbye here was like closing the circle.
"I would define my career with dedication and sacrifice. There have been difficult moments but I think I have always been there for my Sevilla and for the national team. I am very calm about all the work I have done and for me these months have been like a gift.
Today the match was difficult but the team continued, it had chances and I think that is the attitude." Share your favourite memories of Jesus Navas in the comments section Over the summer, Navas was handed a lifetime contract by Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido Carrasco. His wages this term have gone to the Spanish club's charitable foundation, and he will remain with Sevilla in a non-playing role after admitting his pain has got too much for him to prolong his playing career.
“I've been in this situation for four years,” he told Canal Sur Radio in November . “It is wearing you down, it's getting worse, it is getting more and more continuous, more intense. It's complicated, when you finish a game, I haven't been able to walk for two or three days, which becomes complicated.
“For me, these six months were a very big challenge. I wanted to be with the team. I hope I can make it until December because every game starts to be difficult.
I can't take it anymore, it's a health issue. There are days when I can't be with my children. I have it decided.
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