The "Beast" was anything but by the time he left Manchester.

As we found ourselves aimlessly foraging through the Manchester City archives looking for something to dissect now the season has come to a close (cue jokes about the club having no history – ha, ha ha), we came across one particularly hidden dusty name. Full of anticipation we brushed off the off the proverbial grub, clicked our mouse and stared in astonishment as the name “Alvaro Negredo” was revealed.

Now, we will be the first to admit that the Spaniard – affectionately referred to as the “Beast” – slipped our memory. However, like a smell or taste which ignites a flurry of lost memories, we were soon swamped with vivid recollections of the juggernaut forward barging his way through Premier League defences alongside Argentine marksman Sergio Aguero.

Keep in mind, this was a man who was on a run of 19 goals in 20 games at one point in his fledgeling City career. He’d left dent marks in just about every team that had had the displeasure of encountering him and had sent numerous kids home crying about how life wasn’t far, and how they quote “wanted to take up tennis instead”.

He was a tyrant, so when two inopportune injuries struck during the 2014/15 season we imagine the streets were filled with excitement and celebration. At least they were everywhere other than the Blue side of Manchester.

When his City career came to a grinding halt, Negredo was sent back on loan to Spain, Valencia the suitors. Despite a relatively lukewarm spell, in which he claimed just five goals in 30 appearances, the big man earned himself a permanent transfer to the Mestalla at the end of the 2014/15 campaign.

Like a 1000/1 racehorse which needs to be retired, the Spaniard coughed, spluttered and crashed his way through the following year netting just five times in La Liga before being moved on a temporary deal to none other than Middlesbrough. But this wasn’t the end of his misery, not by any means. The newly promoted Premier League side played a brand of “football” that was, shall we say, not exactly conducive to goalscoring, and after nine goals in 36 league appearances, he was returned to Spain a broken man with soured memories of the English topflight.

Negredo spent a brief spell at Turkish outfit Besiktas before moving to UAE Gulf League side Al-Nasr, where admittedly he seems to have found his level again - scoring 15 times in 17 appearances. Whatever that’s worth. The Gulf League is hardly the pinnacle of sporting glory, is it?

Manchester City fans, what are your standout memories of Alvaro Negredo? Let us know in the comments below!