Jose Maria del Nido has admitted that Manchester City’s price for Jesus Navas is better than expected, and that West Ham had a bid for Alvaro Negredo rejected.
Navas is set to complete a transfer to City this week, having agreed terms on a move said be worth between €23m and €28m to Sevilla, depending on reports.
“I think the deal that the club has made and that the player has made is great for both parties,” reflected Del Nido to reporters today.
“He privately and then publicly expressed that he would be leaving, he wanted to reach other targets, believing that his cycle with Sevilla was over, having contributed all that he had to offer.
“The price at which Sevilla has sold Jesus Navas is the football market today.
“We have sold him for an amount much higher than we thought they were going to offer, especially since there was only one bidder.
“And in the current situation in which we are in football and then the market, we have received a cash deal.
“It was a painful operation for the club, do not think we are smiling. He cried when he left me and I burst into tear, because I have known him since he was 15.
“We’ve been through many times, one of the few that I can say I have acted like a father to, through bad times, through good times and through very good.”
Sevilla are seen as needing to sell this summer to service a €50m debt, but Del Nido indicated that no-one else will be sold unless a big offer comes in.
“There are a number of variables per player and also some contractual. We have no need to sell.
“But our project has always been known that when an off-market offer for a player comes in, we sell them.
“Who are we going to sell? All the offers that have arrived have been rejected.
“Negredo? He has four years left on his contract. He is at home here. He has scored goals in a cluster, has delighted us with his football, has shown that he is a great player.
“The summer will determine if he stays with us or not. If you ask my opinion, I’d rather an off-market bid doesn’t arrive.
“When he scored his 16th goal of the season against Athletic, West Ham offered €17m in cash plus three incentives. We did not appreciate that offer and the player refused.”
