LUCAS OCAMPOS: "I DIDN'T COME THROUGH THE ACADEMY BUT I WILL ALWAYS BE A SEVILLISITA"

Lucas Ocampos spoke at his farewell on Tuesday afternoon. In an emotional ceremony, the Argentine player watched a video of his best moments in the Sevilla shirt during his two spells at the club, during which he lifted two UEFA Europa League titles, as well as other footage of former teammates and coaches he has had during his great career. After the captain, Jesús Navas, and the president, José María del Nido Carrasco, took the floor, the Argentine sent a final message to the fans in tears.

The Argentine attacker began by expressing his gratitude: "These are emotional words, I'm very proud of everything I've done at this club. I've made some unforgettable memories. Above all, I take with me the affection of the day-to-day, of the people who work at the club, who are not seen and are in the shadows. I've bored the physios showing videos, the players with the chats in the rooms... these are things I'll never forget. I would like to thank everyone who made it possible for me to say goodbye in the way I deserve." 

"I cannot express in words how difficult it is for me to read the words that take me away from you today and from this club that I feel is my home" 

Lucas Ocampos then read a farewell letter to the fans: "Today it's my turn to say goodbye to you after five years and 209 games playing for this beautiful club. I can't express in words how difficult it is for me to read the words that take me away from you today and from this club that I feel is my home. I want to thank you for the love you have given me and my family. To thank the people who make this club great: physios, kit men, doctors, coaches, chefs, cleaners, nurses, delegates and, especially, Dani and Juanra who made my family feel at home. To Victor, with whom I was lucky enough to share a year, we had a great time. To the president José María for the effort we all made to make me a Rayados player. I would like to thank you for the trust you placed in me as president from day one, for the titles we won together and for something that cannot be seen and that will remain in my heart. The day after my family had surgery, you were the first person to arrive at the hospital in one of the most difficult moments for my family. As a man and a father it is something I will never forget. At the most difficult moment of my career, he gave me the word to return to wear the Sevilla FC shirt, and look how incredible destiny is that four months later we won the seventh Europa League title in Budapest," he continued.

"I would like to thank Diego Alonso, Sampaoli, Quique Sánchez Flores and García Pimienta. I am convinced that you and your coaching staff will bring a lot of joy to Sevilla. To Mendilibar, who gave me back my smile and my desire to play football after my experience in Amsterdam and who made me experience one of the best nights of my career against Roma, lifting another title and being happy all together. I would like to highlight Julen Lopetegui, who apart from being my first coach here, was like a father on and off the pitch, he made me understand a lot about this sport and I lived the best years of my career with him and his coaching staff. I would like to thank all my teammates, those present here today and those I had during these 5 years. They were undoubtedly my second family and I will carry them in my heart. And, above all, to you Sevillistas. I only have words of thanks, you don't know how much I enjoyed playing at the Sánchez Pizjuán with you cheering all the time. I leave with the peace of mind that I gave everything I had, putting the badge and the club first, putting aside the personal to achieve collective aims," he continued.

"I take with me the incredible memory of my last game at the Sánchez-Pizjuán, wearing the captain's armband of my friend and legend Jesús Navas" 

Before finishing, he highlighted the memory of stepping onto the pitch with the captain's armband in his last game: "To say that I take with me the incredible memory of my last game at the Sánchez-Pizjuán, walking in hand in hand with my two daughters and wearing the captain's armband of my friend and legend Jesús Navas. Finally, to the three people who made it all possible. To my wife, to my two daughters. Thank you for giving me the strength, the support I needed at all times. For never letting me fall in difficult moments, none of this incredible story would have been if you were not by my side. Only we knew what we lived in this city and in this team, how happy we were. We will always be a Sevillista family. I didn't come through the academy but I leave a Sevillista for life. Thank you for everything, Sevilla." 

Afterwards, Ocampos answered questions from the media on his time at Nervión: "If I had to sum up in one word it would be family. I'm taking with me more than a club. I'm leaving with friends, family and incredible memories that I'll never forget." 

"It is a time to be totally united" 

Ocampos called for unity: "After living here for so long, I've lived through good and bad times. It's a time to be totally united. Sevilla is great because of its fans and the involvement they have during the 90 minutes when the team is doing well or badly. The main thing is that they are with us. The players are going to turn the situation around. I have full confidence in a coach who wants to add, contribute and leave his mark here. We need to be all together. With them, supporting us, we have done great things. Let's remember Budapest. Being united we ended up lifting such an important cup." 

"I felt that if I left the club it was not the right decision, I wanted to leave in the best way, leaving something to the club. I will continue to compete in a team that is going to play in the new Club World Cup. That's what motivated me to come here, to come to a competitive club. It's a totally family and personal decision. We all ended up happy. It wasn't easy for me. It's one of the hardest moments of my career. There are always new challenges and today I faced this one." 

"I could have many, but if I have to choose three. When I returned to the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán after my return. From Budapest, where the stands were full of Sevilla fans. And my last match. I take with me the memory of going in hand in hand with my two daughters with the armband of Jesus, which has a very important weight. I thoroughly enjoyed my last game at the club."