Alvaro Negredo has said his goodbyes as a Sevilla player following confirmation of his €28m move to Manchester City.
The 27-year-old attended a Press conference at the Sanchez Pizjuan on Wednesday night next to club President Jose Maria Del Nido, and at times appeared close to tears.
“I’ve had four fantastic years and I must thank Del Nido for taking a chance on me from the start when I was a nobody, and also for helping me win a Copa del Rey and to get picked for the national side. Also to everyone at the club: my teammates, the coaches, physios, the kit men, doctors… and of course the fans,” said Negredo.
“I’ve tried to repay everybody and I’m bound to this city for life by my daughter. She is going to be more of a Sevilla fan than anyone and will have a season ticket this year so my family and I feel part of the club.”
In Manchester the former Rayo Vallecano, Real Madrid B and Almeria striker will link up with former Sevilla winger Jesus Navas, with whom he has maintained contact, and new City boss Manuel Pellegrini.
“I spoke with Jesus this morning when it appeared everything had been agreed. I’m pleased to be joining him again next season because he is an important player for any team and a great guy.
“Pellegrini rang me to exchange opinions and he convinced me completely. He told me what he could do for me there and what kind of team I would be going to.”
Negredo then explained why he had taken the decision to leave.
“I believe that in life there are stages and moments, and I think mine here has come to an end. I’ve had the luck to have received such a great offer from a team like City and I’ve taken it. If I hadn’t taken it up I’d have been just as glad to have stayed.
“The President said so many times that I was close to a move. It was the soap opera of the summer and it wasn’t my intention to have it drawn out like this,” confessed Negredo, who picked out his favourite moment in his time with Los Nervionenses.
“It was my memories of the Copa del Rey with Antonio Puerta’s shirt.”
