Flying winger Jesus Navas will be a Manchester City star according to straight-talking director of football Txiki Begiristain.
Spanish international Navas was unveiled as City’s second signing of the summer last week, taking the Blues’ spending towards £50 million after the capture of Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho.
And former Barca chief Begiristain, who admits he painted a grim picture of Manchester to the ex-Sevilla ace, believes Navas is relishing the challenge ahead.
“He is an absolute gift for us,” Begiristain is quoted by Sky Sports as saying. “He goes past people and stretches teams. He will give us something we don’t have.
“I did not want to be anything but straight with him when we first spoke.
“I told him about the rain and I told him about the need to learn English.
“But to everything I said the response was the same ‒ more excitement and enthusiasm for the challenge.”
Navas was an unused substitute alongside David Silva as World and European champions Spain opened their Confederations Cup campaign with a 2-1 defeat of Uruguay last night.
The 27-year-old used to suffer chronic homesickness, which is believed to have cost him big-money moves early in his career but Begiristain is confident those problems are now behind the City new boy.
“I told him how far away from home he was going to feel,” he added.
“I could not have pictured a more grim picture. I had to be sure.”
Image courtesy of Manchester City, via CityTV, with thanks.
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