• Premier League

Jesus Navas keen on Manchester City move

ESPN staff
May 17, 2013
Jesus Navas could move to Manchester City in the summer © Getty Images
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Jesus Navas has suggested he will leave Sevilla this season and that it would be a "dream" to play under presumed new Manchester City coach Manuel Pellegrini.

The Sevilla winger has been heavily linked in Spain with a move to team up with Pellegrini at Eastlands, given his current club's financial problems and City sporting director Txiki Begiristain's plans to implement a new footballing style at the club.

The World Cup 2010 and Euro 2012 winner, 27, told Spanish TV channel La Sexta that the idea of moving to one of Europe's biggest clubs was exciting.

"You can be excited when you are there and you dream, but we are going to wait until the season ends and for summer to come to see what happens," Navas said. "We would have to see if both clubs could come to an agreement."

The idea of working under Pellegrini was also very appealing, Navas said.

"Pellegrini is a coach who has given a lot in every place he has been, with very nice football," he said. "He looks like a great person."

Sevilla president Jose Maria Del Nido has admitted regularly in recent months that the club's perilous financial situation meant leading players could be sold in the summer. Navas, who came through the ranks at the Estadio Sanchez Pizjuan and has made over 400 appearances in 10 seasons at the club, said he was not unhappy in Sevilla but did want to be challenging for titles.

"I am ready for everything," Navas said. "You want to keep growing and fighting for trophies when you are used to these nice things, but I am happy here."

Meanwhile Sevilla coach Unai Emery has maintained that the rumours about his club captain are not necessarily a bad thing for the Rojiblancos.

"That there is talk about Jesus Navas is positive," Emery said. "Nobody thinks he could leave here. All Sevillistas and me, want him to stay because of what Jesus represents. But that his name comes out and that big teams are interested means that Sevilla has prime assets. These rumours should not damage the mood at the club."

Perhaps aware that centre-forward Alvaro Negredo, defender Federico Fazio and midfielder Gary Medel could all also leave Sevilla this summer, the Basque coach said that the negative financial reality for most La Liga clubs meant their best players were being sold.

"At the moment Sevilla, like all the teams except Madrid and Barcelona, need to sell," he said. "All of them. From Atletico Madrid with [Radamel] Falcao, Valencia, Malaga, Sevilla. We must fit ourselves to the current reality of football."

The club may have to look to their youth system for hope for the future, Emery suggested.

"There must be patience," he said. "In moments of crisis is when you have to work so that the good times come. Sevilla needs to continue, whether we get into Europe or not. We must transmit hope for the future. The magnificent youth system is there."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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