Manchester City striker Alvaro Negredo has today announced his retirement from football.
The Spaniard has called time on his playing career at the age of 39, having most recently played for Real Valladolid, helping the club to gain promotion to La Liga last year.
Negredo is fondly remembered by City fans, having spent the 2013/14 season at the Etihad Stadium after joining from Sevilla. He left the club permanently in 2015 after first going on loan to Valencia for the 2014/15 campaign.
While it was only really a fleeting visit, Negredo was a popular figure during his time at City and actually finished up with a very good goalscoring record.
Kyle Walker claimed Negredo was a nightmare to defend against, having faced City as a Tottenham Hotspur player, and certainly, fans got to know him as a real handful for defenders.
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He scored 23 in 49 for the club – and Manchester City News now presents his top five.
#5 – First goal for Man City vs Cardiff (Premier League, August 2013)
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
A sign of things to come, Negredo produced a great header against Cardiff City for his first City goal.
An exquisite cross from David Silva picked Negredo out in the box, who lopped a header back to the far corner.
He had just peeled off his marker, and his great movement in the box would be something City fans would see regularly.
#4 – Spin and finish vs Tottenham (Premier League, November 2013)
Negredo’s goal against against Spurs was a real indicator that Negredo was simply brilliant at getting a shot off when there didn’t initially seem to be any opportunity.
Fernandinho played a little through ball to him in a typical centre-forward position.
There did not seem to be any imminent danger for Spurs, with Michael Dawson covering behind.
But quick as a flash, Negredo spun Dawson, turning the ball through his legs and sending him the wrong way, before finishing clinically into the top corner. A beauty from The Beast.
#3 – Free-kick vs Swansea (Premier League, December 2013)
Negredo had shown himself to be a brilliant penalty box striker up until this game with Swansea City in the Premier League.
But against the Swans, he took everyone by surprise by showing he could take a mean free-kick too.
From around 20 yards out and to the right of the box, Negredo stepped up and lashed the ball into the far corner.
It was a fierce, yet controlled drive, and goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel had absolutely no chance.
#2 – Another spin and finish vs Bayern Munich (Champions League, October 2013)
Negredo was a physical target man, but he certainly had impressive technical ability to boot.
That was on show in a Champions League against Bayern Munich in October 2013.
David Silva prodded a ball through to Negredo, who then spun Jerome Boateng with a Cruyff turn, sitting him down.
Negredo then lashed his effort in off the post.
#1 – Volley vs West Ham United (Capital One Cup, January 2014)
The best goal Negredo scored in a City shirt came in a Capital One Cup (as it was then known) match against West Ham United.
Negredo scored a hat-trick against the Irons, but it was his first goal that truly got supporters purring.
A brilliant lofted ball from Yaya Toure found Negredo, who didn’t even take a touch before firing into the bottom corner on the volley.
It was truly a superb display of technique.
Why Alvaro Negredo left Man City
It was something of a shame that Negredo only spent on season with City.
He had established a very exciting partnership with Sergio Aguero at times, and seemingly, City had stumbled upon a real handful of a number nine.
But in the end, it was a lack of game time that forced Negredo to move. From around March 2014 onwards minutes started to dry up for him and that led to his exit on loan to Valencia initially.
Alvaro Negredo for Man City (2013/14)
Appearances – 49
Minutes played – 2552
Goals – 23
Assists – 6
Negredo is quoted by mancity.com as saying: “My spell in Manchester could have been longer because I was very comfortable at the Club, I was happy, but, of course, during the second half of the season I did not have the opportunities I expected, which I respect,” he said.
“A manager has a team to manage and I’m not the kind of guy who ask questions when I don’t play. You have to accept it; you have to be a professional and at the end of the season I chose what I thought was the best for me, which was to return to Spain. I do not know if I was wrong or not, but it was my decision and time has passed by and I keep to myself the best that of those times