Sevilla takeover hits snag as Sergio Ramos emerges as potential investor
Former Real Madrid and Sevilla defender Sergio Ramos could join a local consortium bidding for the club as American investors cool interest following due diligence.
American investors have pumped the brakes on their Sevilla takeover bid, opening the door for a sensational potential involvement from Sergio Ramos in a rival local consortium.
Deal in danger
What seemed like a done deal has suddenly gone Pete Tong. The American investment group that had been willing to splash serious cash – reportedly over €3,400 per share – has hit a roadblock after conducting their due diligence on the club’s financial situation.
According to muchodeporte.com, the Americans’ enthusiasm has cooled considerably after getting a proper butcher’s at the books, leaving their initial offer in limbo and creating an opening for alternative bidders.
The ‘third way’ emerges
This unexpected development has breathed new life into what’s being called the ‘third way’ – a local consortium led by businessmen Antonio Lappí and Fede Quintero. These lads have been hovering in the background for months, hoping to keep the club in Sevillian hands rather than flogging it to foreign investors.
Ramos enters the chat
The most intriguing twist is the potential involvement of Sergio Ramos. The former Sevilla youth product, who just wrapped up his stint with Mexican side Rayados Monterrey, is reportedly making enquiries about the potential takeover.
While still in early days and nothing formal on the table, Ramos appears to be considering investing in the club if certain conditions are met. This comes just months after he joined Monchi’s project at San Fernando 1940 in an executive role alongside his brother René.
Monchi connection
The Monchi link is particularly significant as Lappí and Quintero have repeatedly expressed their desire to bring the legendary sporting director back to Sevilla if they succeed in their takeover bid.
All these behind-the-scenes manoeuvres suggest the local consortium is positioning itself should the foreign investment group either withdraw completely or reduce their offer to a level that makes the ‘third way’ competitive – assuming, of course, that the current owners still want to sell at all.