J. Navas spoke to Marca about enduring hip pain for a long time before retiring.
According to Mundo Deportivo, J. Navas is 40 years old and officially retired from professional football on December 22, 2024, at the age of 39. However, many people don't know that he could have retired 5 years earlier. A severe hip injury caused him to suffer through the end of his career.
The Andalusian spoke about this in a recent interview with Marca. He also admitted that he misses football very much. Fortunately, he found new solace in cycling, which also allowed him to spend time with those who have always been by his side.
The former Sevilla player said: "Football will always be missed. It's your life, it's what you've been doing since you were a child. But in the end, my hip told me it was over, and I had to end my career."
Navas continued: "My hip was in a very bad state, and I endured it for 5 years. I managed to get through those 5 years, but for me, it was a crazy experience because I had to endure all that pain."
Now, on his bike, he no longer experiences that pain. Navas said: "This is the sport I can do because there's no impact, and my hip doesn't suffer. So I enjoy it. I ride with my brother and with friends from the village. We enjoy cycling there."