Navas joined City in 2013 after 11 years with Sevilla, clocking up close to 400 games and much of his family still live in Andalusia.
He joined the La Liga side when he was just 14, broke into the Sevilla B side initially and made his debut aged 18 and was used sparingly during his first campaign during which his elder brother Marco was briefly his team-mate.
Now he faces his former employers for the first time in a crucial game for both clubs.
“I’m very happy that we’re playing Sevilla and really pleased they’ve managed to get into the Champions League so it’s going to be a very special game for me,” said Navas.
“There aren’t very many players left from my time at the club – Coke, Beto and Jose Antonio Reyes are still there – but I know a lot of their newer players having played against them in La Liga games over the years.
“It will be a great night for me and my family. We are playing against a team from where I grew up and a club I played for since being a kid. Sevilla gave me everything so it will always be a special club for me, but we have a job to do and there can be no room for sentiment.
Sevilla made me the player I am today and gave me the tools to play for my country and play in the Premier League so I will always feel gratitude towards them, but now I am a City player and we have a job to do
...J Navas #15...
“It’s going to be a difficult game – they are a solid defensive unit and we’ll need to be at our best to win this game. The return match will be even harder because the Sevilla supporters are renowned for their passion and will look to make this difficult for us, but we feel we can win anywhere and proved that by beating Borussia Monchengladbach.
“I think we will see two great matches and hopefully, we’ll get the points we need. We can only take one game at a time so it’s Sevilla first, then we’ll focus on United at the weekend then Crystal Palace in the Capital One Cup.
“Our aim is to be successful in every competition we’re in this season so we need to keep doing what we’re doing, stay strong and focused and play our normal game.”
