Sergio Ramos jets into Sevilla to accelerate club takeover bid
The Spanish defender has returned to his former club with investors reportedly offering €400m to purchase Sevilla, as negotiations with key shareholders begin.
Former Sevilla defender Sergio Ramos has touched down in Andalusia with plans to become the club’s new owner, backed by a powerful investment group reportedly offering €400 million for the takeover.
Ramos arrived at San Pablo airport on Thursday accompanied by his brother René and trusted lawyer Julio Senn - key figures in the business conglomerate headed by the former Real Madrid and PSG star, who recently ended his stint with Mexican side Monterrey.
Serious negotiations underway
The Spanish World Cup winner has scheduled meetings with major shareholders and influential figures in the potential sale, including Alberto Pérez Solano, secretary of the board and one of the visible heads in these negotiations.
Ramos’ investment group is said to have tabled an offer of around €400 million to acquire the Sánchez-Pizjuán outfit, including the club’s existing debt. According to some sources, this represents the most substantial bid received to date.
Competing bids and complications
The takeover landscape has shifted recently after the primary American investment group, which had offered more than €3,000 per share, pulled back after conducting their due diligence on Sevilla’s accounts. However, the race remains competitive with:
- A second unnamed American fund still actively interested
- Ramos’ consortium making their move
- The ‘Third Way’ option led by Antonio Lappí and Fede Quintero
A crucial factor will be the stance of José María del Nido Benavente, Sevilla’s largest individual shareholder and former president who famously sold Ramos to Real Madrid back in 2005 for €27 million - a transfer that helped stabilize Sevilla’s finances at the time.
Waiting game for Ramos
Despite positive initial talks in a two-hour meeting, Ramos’ group may need to exercise patience. According to ABC, shareholders are currently negotiating with another investor who has secured a period of exclusivity while they complete their due diligence and finalize their offer.
The potential takeover represents a full-circle moment for Ramos, who returned to play for Sevilla in 2023 after his trophy-laden career elsewhere. During that homecoming, he addressed his controversial 2005 departure, saying he held no grudges against Del Nido, crediting him with giving him his professional debut.
If successful, it would be a proper Bobby Dazzler of a comeback story - from academy graduate to club owner in what would be a remarkable journey for the Spanish football legend.