Joaquin: Why must they take away my happiness?

Joaquin has made an impassioned plea to Fiorentina to let him go "home" to Real Betis.

The Spain international, who arrived in Florence from Malaga in 2013, is a crowd favourite at the Stadio Artemio Franchi and still has a year to run on his contract with the Viola.

However, he was left out of Paulo Sousa's squad for Sunday's Serie A opener at home to AC Milan as he is desperate to be allowed to rejoin Betis, where he started his professional career.

"I can no longer player for Fiorentina," the winger told Firenzeviola.it.

"I'm not enjoying this moment because I would never have thought that a situation like this could be created at the end of my career.

"The truth is that I have been on the market since last year, when I was training away from the rest of the group.

"What I don't understand is why they have now changed their mind.

"Nobody can decide for me. I want to be happy and that will only be in Seville, in my home.

"I would like to do this also for the good of the team, because I would not be able to play with this feeling inside.

"I'm being treated well here because the coach would like me to stay. I understand him but the situation has reached a point of no logic. It would no longer make sense for me to stay going forward.

"I've been wanting to return to Betis for five years. This is a matter of the heart, as my family is waiting there for me. It's a question of blood and football.

"I always showed that I wanted to play for Fiorentina before, just like now I'm showing that I want to leave.

"Why must they take away my happiness?"