DIEGO CARLOS: "SEVILLA GAVE ME THE CHANCE TO CHANGE MY KIDS' AND MY OWN LIFE"

Diego Carlos has bid farewell to Sevilla FC. The Brazilian centre back, who signed for Aston Villa at the start of the summer, returned to the city to say farewell at the Sánchez-Pizjuán, his home for the last three years. 

Such an event was the least the club could have done for the man whose goal won us our sixth Europa League in Cologne and who was one of the first names on the team sheet as the club finished in the top four every season during his time at the club. After some emotional words from Monchi and a video from José Castro, Julen Lopetegui and his teammates, the Brazilian stepped up to the stage: "This is going to be tough. It's time to say goodbye to a club which was so much more than just a club for me. It was my home, where I've had family - I want to thank everyone for how they treated me and my family. I always wanted to play for a club like this. I've had a tough life story and I'm so grateful you believed in me and brought me here. I grew as a player, as a person and as a father. I've won silverware here and it's so difficult for my kids and I to bid farewell. This club gave me the chance to change my kids' and my own life. I thank everyone at the club. The sixth Europa League means more to me than my Olympic Gold Medal because it was my first trophy. I'll be a Sevilla fan forever - its the home of my youngest son.

"I'm here for the club and the fans. I had to say goodbye in person, not just over Instagram"

The Brazilian, who was given a shirt commemorating his 136 games at the club, answered some questions from the journalists at the event: "I'm sure I'll see my teammates again. I wanted to come today because I knew they were travelling. I'm leaving sad because I imagined myself out there training with them, but I wished them all luck and for them to have a great season. I learned a lot here. From the moment Monchi made the call to sign me I've learned so much, everyone here has taught me lots. I've become a new player and an even better person in these three years."

Diego thanked the club to allow him the chance to say goodbye in person - he wanted his goodbye to be more than just a message on social media: "Every day was great with my teammates. Training, competing... there was never a bad day. Even during the pandemic, we were focused on being happy. We deserved all our successes. From the first to the very last day I was so happy. I came here with a lot of ambition and thankfully I could show I could be even better. Sevilla will always be my home. I want to thank Monchi for giving me the chance to say goodbye here. I didn't want to just say goodbye over Instagram, I had to come here to do it in person. I'm here for the club and the fans. I always defended the club with my heart."