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Joaquin pleads with Fiorentina to let him return back to Real Betis

Fiorentina midfielder Joaquin insists he wants to go home and join Real Betis this summer, making a plea to the Serie A club to release him as he is "not very well."

Betis have made an offer for Joaquin, 34, but the Viola have yet to accept. They are still trying to convince the player to stay since coach Paulo Sousa is keen on keeping him.

However, Joaquin says he is no longer fully committed to Fiorentina, adding that he is desperate to return to his former club.

"I want to go back to Betis, I can't play for Fiorentina any longer," he told Firenzeviola.it. "I'm not very well. Not very well at all. I would never have thought I'd be going through something like this at the end of my career.

"I don't understand why they are doing this to me. They told me that I was on the market and I decided to go back to Betis. It's all over and done with; I can't turn back. My heart is in Seville.

"They wanted to get rid of me in January, but I stayed because I knew I could still be important. The coach wants to keep me and I can understand that, but the situation has reached the stage where it is no longer following any logic. What I mean is that he, as a former player, should understand that Betis are the only club I can play for now.

"If they are intelligent, they will let me go -- if they are good people. They need to realise that I've had nearly a 16-year career and I deserve to go home. I've given everything for this club in the last two years. I showed all of my will, my professionalism. I gave everything for the Viola shirt."

Alongside a picture he posted on his Instagram account, Joaquin added: "My mind is made up, I just want to go home."

Mi decisión esta tomada, solo quiero volver a casa... ⏳⏳⏳La mia decisione è presa, voglio solo andare a casa.

A photo posted by Joaquin Sanchez (@joaquinarteoficial) on

Joaquin started his career with Betis, moving on to Valencia in 2006 and joining Fiorentina in 2013. He has made 49 Serie A appearances, but has no intention of making any more.

"It's my heart which is telling me to go back," he added. "My blood family and my footballing family both expect me back there. I really never thought all this controversy would arise. Why do they need to deprive me of my happiness?"