Stoke City chairman Peter Coates is delighted for Steven Nzonzi over his success in Spain.
Nzonzi is in Champions League action against English opposition this week as Seville play host to ailing Premier League champions Leicester City.
Coates says he is proud of the role Stoke played in the development of a player routinely linked in recent times with a big-money move to one of Europe's giants.
“We would like to have kept him at the time he left us in 2015, but we had to respect his wish to move on.
“I believe it took him time to settle and begin to really make his mark in Spain, but I understand he is now one of their star players.
“We are delighted for him because after taking a spell to settle with us, there is no doubt he became a hugely important part of the team."
Source: tribalfootball.com