Guardiola Reflects on Regret Over Letting Go of Key Player, Jesús Navas

Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, recently made an unexpected confession about a former player, revealing how much he regrets the departure of Jesús Navas from the team. Over nearly a decade at the helm of the 'Citizens,' Guardiola has worked with numerous stars, including David Silva, Sergio Agüero, Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland, and even Julian Álvarez, the Argentine forward who is now at Atlético Madrid. But it was Navas, in particular, whose departure Guardiola admitted was a mistake.

Navas, who had been a key player for City, was ultimately relegated in Guardiola's plans, leading to his departure from the club in 2017 to join Sevilla, where he would go on to cement his legacy. It was during a tribute to Navas’s career that Guardiola shared his regret.

Guardiola’s Emotional Apology

In a video message played during Navas’s tribute, Guardiola expressed his sorrow for letting the winger leave. "Thank you for the gift of having spent a year together, and how much I regret letting you go," Guardiola said. "I would have loved to have had you here much longer, but sometimes we make mistakes," the Manchester City manager admitted.

The confession led to questions about Guardiola’s feelings regarding the recent departure of Julian Álvarez to Atlético Madrid. The Brazilian winger Savinho, who was brought in as a replacement, has struggled to adapt to the team, leaving fans and pundits wondering if Guardiola has similar regrets about letting Álvarez go.

Julian Álvarez’s Impact at Manchester City

Álvarez, who joined Manchester City in mid-2022 after an impressive spell at River Plate, spent two successful years at the club before moving to Atlético Madrid in August 2024. During his time at City, Álvarez played a total of 103 games across all competitions, scoring 36 goals and providing 18 assists.

Álvarez was part of the squad that won multiple prestigious titles, including the Premier League in both 2022/2023 and 2023/2024, the 2023 FA Cup, the 2022/2023 UEFA Champions League, the 2023 Super Cup, and the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup.

• Guardiola’s Regret: The Manchester City manager admitted to regretting letting Jesús Navas leave the club, despite his success at Sevilla.
• Julian Álvarez’s Departure: The Argentine forward left Manchester City for Atlético Madrid in August 2024 after a successful stint, raising questions about Guardiola’s feelings on the move.
• Álvarez’s Success at City: During his two years at City, Álvarez contributed 36 goals and 18 assists, helping the team win numerous titles.
• Savinho’s Struggles: The 20-year-old Brazilian Savinho, who was signed as a replacement for Álvarez, has yet to adapt to the Premier League.