Negredo developed as a striker in his last season, scoring 18 league goals, although he could not prevent Castilla's drop from Segunda División. He did manage to impress first-team coach Fabio Capello and was called up for a few games in the Copa del Rey, but remained an unused substitute.[7][8]
Almería
In July 2007, Negredo was sold to La Liga newcomers UD Almería, with Real Madrid having an option to buy him back. He made his top flight debut on 26 August in a 3–0 shock win at Deportivo de La Coruña.[9] on 2 February 2008, he scored from the penalty spot in a 2–0 home defeat of his former team[10] and, on 19 April, he added two – after having missed a penalty kick – in a 4–1 away victory over UEFA Cup and Spanish Cup holders Sevilla FC.[11]
Negredo finished the campaign as Almería's top scorer with 13 goals, as the Andalusian side finished eighth.[12] In 2008–09 he scored five in the team's first six matches, including a 95th-minute winner against neighbours Recreativo de Huelva (1–0) on 28 September 2008. In February of the following year he scored twice against Valencia CF in a 3–2 away loss, which took his league tally to ten,[13] and finished with 19.[12]
Return to Real Madrid
Real Madrid exercised their buyback option of a reported €5 million on Negredo in June 2009,[14] and the player returned to training with the club on 10 July.[15] In the pre-season, he scored the fourth goal against L.D.U. Quito in a 4–2 win in the Peace Cup.[16]
Negredo had been tipped to join Real Zaragoza or Hull City in summer 2009,[17] but finally decided to sign a reported five-year deal with Sevilla for €15 million, with Real Madrid having an option to buy the player back in the first two years.[18][19] New manager Manuel Pellegrini could not guarantee him first-team football with the likes of Karim Benzema, Gonzalo Higuaín, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Cristiano Ronaldo in the squad, and subsequently advised him to leave and join Sevilla in order to fulfill his potential; Negredo later revealed his admiration for Pellegrini's honesty.[20]
Negredo made his debut for Sevilla on 30 August 2009, coming as a substitute in the 55th minute of a 2–0 away loss to Valencia.[21] Two weeks later he scored his first goal, at CA Osasuna in a 2–0 win.[22]
A starter throughout most of 2009–10, with Luís Fabiano and Frédéric Kanouté fighting for the other striker berth, Negredo's first year was highly irregular. He suffered a scoring drought that lasted (in the league alone) 12 games, only ending on 2 May 2010 in a 3–1 home win against Atlético Madrid, his two goals coming from penalties (he had already lost his starting position at the time, but the Malian was suspended for that game).[23][24] He added another two in the following match, a 5–1 away rout of Racing de Santander for a total of 11 in the league,[25] and scored one more in the UEFA Champions League.[26] He was also sent off three times in the season, the last of which almost prevented him from taking part in the domestic cup final against Atlético Madrid after insulting the assistant referee in Sevilla's 3–2 win at former club Almería; the ban was later lifted and he was allowed to play – Fabiano was unavailable for the match through injury – in the 2–0 final victory.[27]
Negredo was a regular first choice in the 2010–11 campaign, scoring 26 times in all competitions, 20 in the league (Fabiano also returned to São Paulo FC in March 2011).[28] Highlights included two goals each against Villarreal CF (3–3 away draw in the cup, in an eventual semi-final run),[29] Deportivo (3–3 away draw),[30] Real Madrid (6–2 home loss),[31] Osasuna (3–2 loss, away)[32] and RCD Espanyol (3–2 away victory).[33]
On 19 July 2013, Manchester City announced the signing of Negredo.[36] The fee was reported as £16.4 million plus add-ons,[37] and he signed a four-year deal.[38]
Negredo made his Premier League debut on 19 August 2013, coming on as a substitute for countryman David Silva in a 4–0 home win against Newcastle United.[39] He scored his first goal for the club the following match on 25 August, a header in a 3–2 defeat at newly promoted Cardiff City.[40] His first at the City of Manchester Stadium arrived in the next round, a 2–0 home victory over Hull City.[41]
Despite not scoring since January 2014, Negredo finished the season with 23 goals from 48 appearances in all competitions as City won the league.[45] He played the last two minutes of the 3–1 win over Sunderland in the League Cup final on 2 March, being booked for a foul on Phil Bardsley.[46]
Valencia
On 1 September 2014, Negredo signed a loan deal with Valencia, which included an obligatory clause to buy his rights at the end of the campaign for a club record amount believed to be around €27 million.[47][48] He scored his first competitive goal in his first appearance on 7 December, starting in a 1–1 away draw against Granada CF which was also his first appearance.[49]
Negredo joined Valencia on a permanent basis on 1 July 2015.[50] On 25 August, he helped his team to reach the Champions League group phase by scoring in the fourth minute of an eventual 2–1 loss at AS Monaco FC (4–3 on aggregate).[51]
In October 2015, after criticising manager Nuno Espírito Santo's choice of tactics, Negredo was completely ostracised.[52][53] He began to play again under new boss Gary Neville,[54] notably scoring three goals in a 4–0 home victory against Granada in the domestic cup.[55]
On 20 July 2016, Negredo returned to the Premier League by joining Middlesbrough on a season-long loan,[56] accompanying several compatriots including manager Aitor Karanka.[57] He scored in his first appearance on 13 August, putting the hosts ahead in a 1–1 home draw with Stoke City;[58] On 26 November, he gave Boro the lead twice in a 2–2 draw at title holders Leicester City,[59] and another brace three weeks later contributed to a 3–0 victory against visitors Swansea City;[60] he was top scorer for the Riverside Stadium club with nine goals as they were relegated to the EFL Championship.[61]
Beşiktaş
On 3 August 2017, Negredo signed for Süper Lig side Beşiktaş J.K. on a three-year deal.[62] He scored his first goal for his new team on 28 October, helping them to a 2–1 away win over Alanyaspor.[63] During his first weeks, he failed to establish his place in the starting eleven due to the good form of Cenk Tosun, who was sold to Everton in the winter transfer window.[64]
On 16 August 2018, Negredo came on as a substitute and scored a last-minute winner in a 2–1 away defeat of LASK in the Europa League third-qualifying round, leading the Black Eagles to the play-off round on the away goals rule 2–2 on aggregate. He celebrated by taking off his shirt, and received a second yellow card for the excessive celebration.[65]
Beşiktaş and Negredo mutually terminated their contract on 18 September 2018.[66] He later cited the club's financial struggles as the reason behind the termination.[64]
Al-Nasr
On 18 September 2018, Negredo signed for Al-Nasr SC on a two-year contract.[67] His maiden appearance in the UAE Pro League took place three days later, and he missed a penalty late into a 3–0 home loss to Al Ain FC.[68]
Negredo scored in the first minute of the final of the UAE League Cup against Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai FC on 17 January 2020, eventually helping his team to win their second title in the competition after the 2–1 victory.[69]
Cádiz
Negredo returned to his homeland in July 2020, with the 34-year-old agreeing to a one-year deal at Cádiz CF who had just returned to the top division.[70] He scored in his second appearance, helping to a 2–0 away win over SD Huesca.[71] He added a further seven until the end of the season – squad best – as the side easily managed to avoid relegation, automatically renewing his contract until June 2022.[72][73]
Negredo signed a new extension in November 2022, keeping him at the Nuevo Mirandilla until June 2024.[77] On 1 February 2024, however, having made just nine competitive appearances in the first part of the season,[78] he was released.[79]
Valladolid
On 8 February 2024, Negredo joined second-tier Real Valladolid until the end of the campaign.[80] He totalled 585 minutes for the runners-up, scoring once and helping his team to promotion.[81][82]
International career
Negredo on the substitutes' bench for Spain in 2013
Four days later, Negredo started and scored twice – also providing two assists – in another away fixture, at Bosnia and Herzegovina (5–2 triumph), as Spain eventually won all ten group matches.[85] He was, however, overlooked for the final stages in South Africa, with the national team winning the tournament.[86]
Negredo was one of seven players cut from Spain's final squad for the 2014 World Cup, alongside City teammate Jesús Navas.[88]
Style of play
A tall striker with an eye for goal, Negredo mainly operated in a central role. Although he was regarded as a static forward, he was also known for his powerful striking ability with his left foot and his strength in the air, and was also capable of dropping into deeper positions in order to link-up with the midfielders.[89][90][91]
Personal life
Negredo's older brothers, César (born 1980) and Rubén (1985), were also footballers, the former a defender and the latter a forward. Both played their entire careers in division three or lower.[92][93][94]
His father, José María, worked as a taxi driver in Madrid.[95]
Career statistics
Club
As of match played 2 June 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
^Alba, Jesús (14 October 2009). "De suplente de lujo a pieza fija" [From deluxe backup to key unit]. Diario de Sevilla (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 October 2019.
^Aldunate, Ramiro (5 May 2010). "Una mano al cuello" [Hand to throat]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 October 2019.
^"Negredo attı, Beşiktaş tura uçtu!" [Negredo scored, Beşiktaş flew to the next round!] (in Turkish). Mackolik. 16 August 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
