Monday 21 July 2014 14:03, UK
Liverpool forward Iago Aspas has joined La Liga side Sevilla on a season-long loan after passing a medical with the Europa League champions.
The 26-year-old will be officially presented at the club's Sanchez Pizjuan stadium on Monday, with the two clubs agreeing terms earlier this week. The deal gives the Spanish side the option of offering Aspas a three-year permanent contract once the loan deal expires.
Just 12 months after completing a £9million move to Liverpool from Celta Vigo, Aspas is returning to Spain to rebuild his career after an unhappy stay on Merseyside, during which time he made just five Premier League starts for Brendan Rodgers’ side, failing to score a single goal.
Despite Liverpool being embroiled in a thrilling title race – only losing out on the Premier League title to Manchester City on the final day of the season – Aspas has admitted his year in England had not gone as planned.
"My experience in the Premier League was fabulous on a collective level, but on an individual level it was very hard for me, because I went from playing all the time to not playing at all," he told Spanish radio station Cadena Ser.
It was the talismanic performances of Aspas for Celta that attracted Liverpool's attention, but the forward had to get used to a peripheral role once Luis Suarez returned from suspension and formed a lethal striking partnership with Daniel Sturridge.
"Perhaps I struggled to adapt, I'm not going to kid myself, but above all our striking partnership, which Luis Suarez was a part of, scored 50 goals," said the Spaniard.
"They produced spectacular performances and so it was very complicated for me to get into the team."
And Aspas is confident of holding down a place in Unai Emery’s team, despite the performances of Kevin Gameiro and Carlos Bacca, who both had sensational first seasons with Sevilla last term.
"All I want to do is play football and Sevilla have given me that opportunity, and now I hope to be able to pay them back on a big scale," he said.
"Sevilla deserve to be in the Champions League after the last few seasons they have had. I hope to play as often as possible, and I hope to spend many years in Seville."
Aspas also admitted that he will not miss the city of Liverpool, as he swaps Merseyside for Seville.
"It wasn't very difficult to make an improvement," he said.
"Even though people say Galicians are used to seeing clouds in the sky and a similar climate to the one in Liverpool, once you return here you treasure Spain a lot more. I hope I can adapt and acclimatise to Sevilla as quickly as possible."
