ROQUE MESA: "IT SEEMS LIKE ME AND SEVILLA WERE DESTINED TO CROSS PATHS"

Though arriving later than hoped - with a transfer nearly going through in the summer of 2016 - but clearly enormously happy, Roque Mesa spoke at his official presentation as a Sevilla FC player. "I want to thank the Chairman and the Club for the effort they've made for me. Sevilla were interested a year and a half ago. Sevilla and everybody involved made this effort for me to be here, they knew how much I wanted to be here but the circumstances didn't allow it to happen in the past. But in the end it seems as though my and Sevilla's paths were destined to cross. I'm very happy to be here. I don't need to say anything about the club, you just need to look at its history... I think I've come to a great club with great fans and a great city", he said.

Roque Mesa admitted Betis were also interested - specifically manager Quique Setién - though his priority was always Sevilla: "It's true I spoke with him. He was my coach too and we're good friends. He definitely wanted me but I told him Sevilla was an important step in my career and he had to understand I wanted to be here", he said. 

He also admitted the Chairman of Las Palmas contacted him during the winter market: "It's true that when negotiations were already on the table with Sevilla and everything was agreed, the Chairman of UD Las Palmas called me to give me the option of a return. But I was clear with him, I told him that it was very important for me to be here and he completely understood".