Guardiola's £14m flop dropped down to Spain's second-tier after Man City misery

When Nolito arrived at Manchester City, there were high expectations that he could help Pep Guardiola to win the Premier League title in his first season in England.

The Spaniard was signed from Celta Vigo for around £14million in the summer of 2016, becoming Guardiola's second signing as City boss. Things started well, with Nolito scoring four goals in his first 11 games for the Premier League title challengers.

But as Guardiola's hopes of winning the league went up in smoke, so did Nolito's hopes of a long stay at the Etihad Stadium. He made just five league appearances in the second-half of the campaign, with his only start in any competition in 2017 being in the FA Cup against Huddersfield Town.

Nolito was not even included in the squad for five of City's final seven Premier League games, with his move being a total disaster. It was also not lost on the winger that City continued to sign players who would challenge for his place in the team.

There was little surprise then when he made it clear just before the start of the 2017 summer transfer window that he wanted to leave the Etihad. He revealed that a number of clubs were interested in him as he demanded City let him depart.

"I'm crazy about returning to Spain. City keep signing players, we'll see if they'll let me leave easily. I hope I can leave, whether it's on loan, a transfer or whatever," the Spain international told Cope.

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"I have several teams I'd prefer to join but it depends on City. I have two years left to run on my contract. I know about the interest from Atlético and Celta... but they're things for my agent to deal with."

Before being allowed to join Sevilla on a three-year deal in July, he also aimed a blast at Guardiola. He made no secret of his desire to leave and admitted his relationship with the City boss was at breaking point.

"It's not an easy topic because you have to see what City says and what City want. From December until the summer, I played very little. All I want to do is play and if I have the chance, I want to leave and return to Spain," he told El Larguero.

"I want to play and try to be happy but I don't think Guardiola has any faith in me. I guess City will want to receive a big fee for me because they paid a lot for me and they will have settled on a price."

His first season at Sevilla was much better, with Nolito a regular as they reached the final of the Copa del Rey. That was the high point of his time with the La Liga side though with his opportunities diminishing badly in his second campaign.

That led to a return to Celta Vigo in 2019, and he would go on to enjoy two further seasons at his old club. But in the summer just gone Nolito was released, having scored just 13 goals in those three years.

Unsurprisingly considering he is now 36-years-old, there were few suitors interested in signing the winger. That forced a drop down into the second tier with Ibiza, who he signed a two-year contract with.

His time on the Balearic islands has been decidedly mixed though, scoring just one goal and notching only one assist so far. L'Eivissa are also deep in trouble, with just three wins so far this season putting them in the Segunda Division's relegation zone.

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