Jesus Navas to leave Man City as summer exodus continues

Jesus Navas to leave Man City as summer exodus continues image

Jesus Navas is the latest player to be shown the Manchester City exit door, with the club confirming his summer exit on Thursday.

Shortly after revealing that full-back Gael Clichy would leave the Etihad Stadium this summer, City revealed the Spain international would also be departing in the transfer window.

Pep Guardiola paid tribute to his fellow Spaniard, who featured 36 times for Man City in his final season with the Premier League club.

"Working with Jesus has been a pleasure," ex-Barcelona boss Guardiola told the club in a statement. "His hard work, dedication, professionalism and desire to win have been apparent every single day.

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"He showed his versatility numerous times this season, operating at full-back and doing so with distinction.

"I wish him all the very best with his next move."

Pablo Zabaleta is another familiar face at the Manchester club to be leaving the club as Guardiola looks to freshen his squad for his second season in charge.

Yaya Toure, Bacary Sagna and Willy Caballero's futures are also yet to be decided with each of their contracts expiring on June 30, 2020.

Navas has been linked with a return to Sevilla, whom he played for from 2000 until 2013 when he signed for Man City in an estimated £15 million deal.

Sevilla's academy chief, Pablo Blanco, had joked he would travel to the UK himself to collect Navas and return him to the Andalusian club.

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"I would put him in my house or pick him up from Manchester myself if the club asked," Blanco told Canal Sur. "Jesus Navas is an academy player, a reflection of the work we do."

Navas made 77 league starts for Man City across his four years at the club, winning the Premier League once and the League Cup twice.

He already has a World Cup winners' medal and a European Championship victory his name from 2010 and 2012 respectively.