Sevilla president explains why he rejected Sergio Ramos’ offer to play for free
Sergio Ramos will not be playing for Sevilla while he is in discussions to buy the club
Sevilla president Jose Maria Del Nido Carrasco says it was his decision to veto the idea of former Spain defender Sergio Ramos re-signing for the Liga club.
Ramos has set up a consortium that is currently in a period of exclusivity to buy his boyhood club. During the negotiations with Sevilla, who are heavily in debt, Ramos offered to play for free in a bid to drag them up the Liga table.
Sevilla are three points above the relegation zone and stuck in a rut of one win in seven games.
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‘Inconceivable’ for Ramos to play and own Sevilla
But Del Nido says it would be highly unusual for Ramos, who made 67 appearances for Sevilla either side of a trophy-laden 16 years at Real Madrid, to work under head coach Matias Almeyda if his proposed buy-out goes through.
“The decision that he wouldn’t play for Sevilla is mine,” Del Nido told the Jugada de Sevilla programme on Canal Sur.
“It is inconceivable that he could become the owner of Sevilla while playing for the club. It couldn’t be that the owner of the club was being trained by Almeyda.”
Ramos offered to play for free but La Liga rules stipulate every player has to receive a minimum salary of €195,000 (£170,000). Sevilla have no room left in their budget and even the minimum remuneration package would have taken the club over salary cap limits.
“We have no room with the salary and he could not have played for Sevilla for free,” Del Nido added. “The decision is mine.”
Death chants don’t put Del Nido off task in hand
Del Nido’s stance has not gone down well with a fanbase already furious at the demise of the seven-time UEFA Cup/Europa League winners. Chants wishing he would die have been heard this season but Del Nido insists all his decisions are done with the best interests of the club in mind.
He added: “As president of Sevilla I am fulfilling the roadmap, I have a clear conscience. We have reduced Sevilla’s costs, which could not be sustained without being in the Champions League.
“That they [the fans] wish death on you is not pleasant and these situations have to be condemned. I don’t have to say anything to the fans. Many nights when I go to bed my head tells me if it’s worth staying in Sevilla. I accept being the bad guy in this movie in the history of Sevilla and I do it out of responsibility.”
Sergio Ramos’ career details
Ramos, 39, has not played since leaving Mexican side Monterrey in December when his contract expired. A central defender who frequently clashed with referees – he has been sent off 30 times in his professional career – Ramos remains Spain’s record appearance holder with 180 caps and was a key member of the side that won the 2010 World Cup and 2008 and 2012 European Championship.
He won La Liga five times with Madrid and the Champions League on four occasions.
Ramos left the Santiago Bernabeu in 2021 for Paris Saint-Germain, with whom he won Ligue 1 twice, before returning to Sevilla.
Sevilla are next in action when they host Alaves on Saturday evening.