Ex-Man City star 'can't take it any more' and forced to retire due to chronic pain

Jesus Navas has conceded that he will be forced to end his illustrious career in December due to “intense” chronic pain.

The Sevilla legend, who has made a club-record 692 appearances for his hometown team, will turn 39 in November. Despite his body’s protests, he continues to deliver performances for Sevilla.

The ex-Manchester City winger, now often seen as a right-back, has an arthritic hip which makes even daily tasks challenging. Last Thursday, he was in so much pain that he couldn’t sleep and could barely walk.

Yet, by Saturday morning, he had declared himself fit to start his first game of the season against Getafe in La Liga and astonishingly, he scored the game’s only goal in a 1-0 triumph before he was substituted to ice his hip.

However, Navas recognises that his time on the pitch for Sevilla, where he has spent 17 years in the first team, is nearing its end. After emotional scenes at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on the weekend, Navas opened up about the severity of his physical condition.

“I’ve been in this situation for four years,” he confessed to Canal Sur Radio. “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.”

Navas was on the brink of leaving Sevilla in May before club president Jose Maria del Nido Carrasco made a U-turn and offered him a lifetime contract. An agreement was met that Navas would carry on playing until the end of 2024, with his wages going to the club’s charitable foundation, before retiring and moving into an off-pitch role.

“Not for a second have I hesitated to answer in the affirmative to the proposal made by the president of my Sevilla,” Navas said at the time. “Yes, I want to retire at Nervion. I want to continue playing for my Sevilla. I willingly accept to continue to be linked to the club that I am in love with. My wish, and this is what I have told the president, is to continue playing until December in a transition to help the team.”

Navas’ final match will likely be on December 22, away against Real Madrid. Regardless of what happens between now and then, he will retire as a legend, having helped Sevilla win four Europa League titles and two Copa del Reys, as well as two European Championships and the World Cup with Spain.