Jesús Navas is grateful to be a Favorite Son of Andalusia: “I feel Andalusian through every pore of my body”

Hours after it was announced that he would be part of the select group of Favorite Sons of Andalusia , at the request of the Andalusian Government, Jesús Navas has not been long in coming in the public sphere and wanted to quickly thank the umpteenth recognition that the institutions, whatever their scope and whatever their magnitude, have given to the man who has undoubtedly been the most important Sevilla player in the entire history of the Nervión club. It should be noted that Navas has been retired as a footballer since last December 2024, when he played his last game against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu, and Sevilla prepared a great tribute for him afterwards in style at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán with the presence of family and friends, which was a real party to celebrate so many years of career. Also from former teammates and former coaches of the man who is already a legend in Seville, who has not yet been assigned a role in the present of the red and white club but who has been seen very close to García Pimienta in recent sessions.

In a video and through his social networks, the Los Palacios native wanted to show his immense satisfaction at being one of those chosen by the Andalusian body to continue being an emblem of the land that saw him born at the gala next Friday, February 28, Day of Andalusia, which will take place at the Maestranza theater in Seville. It is, as this newspaper announced last night, the highest honorary distinction that the regional Administration gives for the merits, actions and exceptional or extraordinary services carried out for the benefit of Andalusia, an image that Navas has been projecting above all during his time as a professional player at Sevilla and Manchester City, which have been his clubs, and especially in the Spanish national team, where Navas became the most successful footballer with titles ever with the national team, having lifted two Euro Cups, the last one last year with Luis de la Fuente, and a World Cup, in 2010, beyond the League of Nations.

Navas was brief but direct when it came to expressing his sincere gratitude for the award of this distinction that will undoubtedly put him back in the spotlight throughout Andalusia. "I would like to thank all Andalusians for the honour of granting me the distinction of Favourite Son of the region. It has been a privilege to have felt Andalusian and to have carried the name of Andalusia throughout the world. It is a very happy day for my family: my wife, my children, my parents, my brothers, all of them have accompanied me to achieve the proposed objectives," Navas said at first.

"I feel Andalusian through every pore of my body," he added, with a thin smile, reciprocating the affection he received yesterday from the Andalusian Government and its president, Juanma Moreno, who was the one who made official through his X profile the designation of the palace-born man as the region's Favourite Son. "And I feel proud to have been born in this land, because the values ​​of work, humility and perseverance go with me and with all Andalusians . Thank you very much for so much affection, you make me feel very happy," added Navas, who on Friday has a new appointment in Seville to receive the warmth of all of Andalusia.