The man who can't leave Sevilla

Sometimes, it feels like there is an invisible force guiding you? For Sevilla's striker Rafa Mir, that force made him stay at the club even though he really wanted to leave and the coach doesn't intend to play him this season.

The 26-year-old has seen two opportunities to continue his career in destinations he greatly desired slip through his fingers. Returning to Valencia, which he considers his home, faded away as the transfer window slipped away and due to Valencia's financial constraints.

When Valencia put in a loan offer to Sevilla, the Andalusian club closed the door on Mir leaving. It was already too late. On the last day of the transfer window, an even more powerful suitor came knocking: Milan. The Italians were ready to cover his wages and even offered a buy option similar to what Sevilla paid to Wolves two years ago. That was rejected as well - even though Rafa really wanted to wear the Rossoneri shirt.

To start with, the goal scorer considers the treatment he has received from Sevilla's coaches to be unfair. He was signed during the Julen Lopetegui reign but he was only given playing time when first-choice attacker Youssef En-Nesyri was injured. Later, he had to play on the wing under Jorge Sampaoli. Now, with Jose-Luis Mendilibar, Mir barely got a sniff of the pitch. In fact, the coach told him privately that it would be best to find another destination during the transfer window. And he's been trying to do that since June, but nothing materialised.

Sevilla's sporting director, Victor Orta, admitted the club decided having Mir as a backup was better than letting him go for next to nothing.

"On the last day of the transfer window, we couldn't let go of a player like Rafa. Milan wanted him the most, but I believe he's a forward who can continue to contribute a lot here at Sevilla."

Rafa Mir can understand Sevilla's stance, even if he disagrees with it. He wanted to leave, and now all he wants is to play. At one point, even Diego Simeone noticed him and considered taking him to Atletico Madrid. He hopes to get the opportunities that haven't been given to him yet. His destiny is to play a third season at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. He might as well try to make it count.

LA LIGA - MATCHDAY 4

Friday

Cadiz - Villareal 3-1 (2-1)

/Ramos 18, Machis 30 p, 50 - Sorloth 10/

Almeria - Celta 2-3 (0-2)

/Akieme 54, Arribas 68 - Nunez 24, Larsen 33, Swedberg 87/

Saturday

Sociedad - Granada 5-3 (2-1)

/Kubo 9, 44, Zubimendi 59, Barrentxea 67, Bosch 76 og - Le Normand 35 og, Boye 83, Zaragoza 90+9/

Real Madrid - Getafe 2-1 (0-1)

/Joselu 47, Bellingham 90+5 - Mayoral 11/

Alaves - Valencia 1-0 (1-0)

/Ozkacar 6 og/

Real Betis - Rayo Vallecano 1-0 (0-0)

/Willian Jose 53/

Sunday

Girona - Las Palmas 1-0 (0-0)

/Portu 88/

17.15: (3.20) Mallorca (3.20) Ath.Bilbao (2.50)

19.30: (1.50) Atl.Madrid (4.30) Sevilla (7.75)

22.00: (5.30) Osasuna (3.60) Barcelona (1.70)

***odds are subject to change