Jesús Navas González (Spanish pronunciation: [xeˈsuz ˈnaβaz ɣonˈθaleθ];[a] born 21 November 1985) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a right winger for Sevilla and the Spain national team. His main assets are his quick dribbling and an ability to run at opposing defenders.[3][4][5]
He played the vast majority of his career with Sevilla, appearing in 393 official games and winning six major titles, including two UEFA Cups and two Copas del Rey. In 2013 he signed for Manchester City, where he won the 2013–14 Premier League.
A Spain international since 2009, Navas helped his country win the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012, earning 35 caps and scoring three goals.
On 4 June 2013, after speculation concerning Navas’ future, Sevilla confirmed on its official website that he was leaving the club with the expectation of joining Premier League side Manchester City.[20] The transfer, reportedly valued at £14.9 million,[21] was completed seven days later; the player said “this is the right moment for me to take this step. I’m very happy with the opportunity and the decision.”[22]
Navas made his league debut on 19 August 2013, playing the full 90 minutes in a 4–0 home win against Newcastle United.[23] He scored his first two goals in the competition for his new team on 24 November, helping to a 6–0 home routing of Tottenham Hotspur.[24]
On 2 March 2014, Navas scored City’s third goal as they defeated Sunderland 3–1 to win the League Cup.[25] He appeared in 48 games across all competitions in his first season (six goals), helping the club win the fourth national championship in its history.[26]
Navas returned to the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium on 3 November 2015, featuring the full 90 minutes in a 3–1 win for the group stage of the UEFA Champions League and assisting Wilfried Bony in the last goal, still in the first half.[27][28] Late into the 2016–17 campaign he was reconverted by new manager Pep Guardiola into a right back, and from that position he contributed with two decisive passes in a 3–1 home success against Hull City on 8 April 2017.[29]
On 25 May 2017, Manchester City announced Navas would be leaving the club.[30]
Return to Sevilla
On 1 August 2017, Sevilla announced the return of Navas to his previous club through a video. He signed a four-year contract[31][32] and was awarded the number 16 shirt previously worn by the late Antonio Puerta, who was a close friend.[33]
On 20 September 2017, Navas celebrated his 400th competitive appearance for the club by scoring the only goal of the 1–0 home win against UD Las Palmas.[34]
International career
After breaking into the Sevilla first team, Navas made his debut for the Spanish under-21s, scoring in a 1–1 draw against France on 17 August 2004.[35] He had been remarked as a potential star after good performances for club and country, but his anxiety problems forced him to quit international football. In August 2009, he announced his desire to overcome his condition in order to stake his claim in the squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and made himself available for selection, stating: “To play for your country is the greatest thing and I hope to be able to, too. I have to be calm and make my decision. I have to continue taking the right steps.”[36]
Navas (right) on the bench during Euro 2012
On 9 November 2009, Navas was called up by coach Vicente del Bosque for friendlies with Argentina and Austria.[37][38] On 14 November he made his debut against the former in a 2–1 win in Madrid, playing the final ten minutes in the place of Andrés Iniesta;[39] four days later, he featured the entire second half in a final 5–1 win over the latter in Vienna.[40]
Called up for the World Cup final stages in South Africa, Navas scored his first goal as an international on 3 June 2010 in a warm-up friendly with South Korea, netting the game’s only four minutes from time.[41] In the tournament itself he appeared in three matches, including 30 minutes plus extra time in the final against the Netherlands as Spain lifted its first FIFA World Cup trophy.
Navas was also selected for UEFA Euro 2012, where he appeared in several games for the eventual champions as a substitute. On 18 June 2012 he scored the game’s only goal in the 87th minute of the last group stage fixture against Croatia, handing Spain the first place in Group C: he netted from point-blank range following an assist by Iniesta.[42]
Picked for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, Navas appeared in three contests from the bench. On 27 June, in the semi-finals against Italy, he scored the decisive penalty in the shootout (0–0 after 120 minutes).[43]
Navas was one of seven players cut from Spain’s final squad for the 2014 World Cup, alongside City teammate Álvaro Negredo.
