It often happens that veterans are way too good for small teams but aren’t quite good for contenders at some stage of their careers, and it’s only natural for them to wonder if they would be better going in a less competitive side in order to continue having a starring role through the last years of their careers before hanging the cleats.
So, it’s very common to watch an extremely talented player that were once the main face of their teams make a move to a less competitive tournament in order to get a very lucrative deal while getting consistent playing time, instead of getting frustrated on their current team’s bench while watching youngsters take their jobs.
Even if they can still contribute to their current sides, it’s often better to just walk away while they still can and leave the door open for young lads to take the reins of the team, so they wind up leaving to a less competitive league, where, their chances of being in the starting XI are higher than ever.
One of the players who has reportedly caught the eyes of Turkish giant Fenerbahce is the talented Manchester City winger Jesus Navas, as the World Champion’s best years are almost behind him and he’s not getting any younger.
The 31-year-old hasn’t been a regular starter in Pep Guardiola’s squad this season, and even if he has been a steady contributor off the bench for the citizens, he could still have a better role at a smaller side, and Fenerbahce are looking very interested in making a move for the struggling Spaniard.
Navas has only played 485 minutes so far this season and is yet to record a goal or an assist in any competition for the citizens, and considering that Pep’s squad is finally entirely healthy, he’s going to have a very hard time to get playing time over the course of the second half of the season, so it’ll make a lot of sense for him to leave the Etihad right now.
The Turkish league has proven to be a great tournament for several Premier League former stars like Didier Drogba, Robin Van Persie, Nani and even Raul Meireles, as it offers a less competitive tournament with the chance to still play European football while making a decent profit out of it.
We all know what a game changer Navas can be from his time at Sevilla, where he had the best level of his career, and he could totally improve a Fenerbahce side while becoming a regular starter.
On top of that, the Turkish team is currently on the third spot of the league and they’re looking to make a run at the title during the second half of the season, so pairing Navas and his outstanding crosses and key passes with veteran strikers like Emmanuel Emenike and Robin Van Persie could provide the boost they’re looking for in order to stay at the top of the league for several years to come.