Del Nido Carrasco admits blocking Ramos Sevilla return: 'The decision was mine'
Sevilla president reveals he personally vetoed Sergio Ramos' potential January transfer due to conflict with defender's interest in buying the club.
Sevilla president José María del Nido Carrasco has taken personal responsibility for blocking Sergio Ramos’ potential return to the club during the January transfer window, while addressing the mounting pressure on his presidency with the club hovering just three points above the relegation zone.
Ramos revelation
In a bombshell admission during an interview with Canal Sur’s ‘La Jugada de Sevilla’ program, del Nido Carrasco revealed: “The decision that he doesn’t play for Sevilla is mine.”
The president explained his reasoning was due to Ramos’ reported interest in purchasing the club:
“It was incompatible that he could become Sevilla’s owner while playing for Sevilla. The circumstance could arise where Sevilla’s owner was being coached by Almeyda.”
Del Nido Carrasco confirmed he personally vetoed the move, stating it had nothing to do with sporting considerations. He also noted that Sevilla’s salary cap issues would have prevented Ramos from playing for free anyway.
Under pressure
The president addressed the growing fan unrest at Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, where supporters have been chanting for his departure:
“One thing is your stadium singing ‘Junior, leave now’ and another is ‘Junior, die’. Wishing death on someone isn’t pleasant.”
Despite the intense criticism, del Nido Carrasco insists he’s following the club’s financial roadmap:
- Reduced expenses that were unsustainable without Champions League football
- Has backing from LaLiga and Goldman Sachs (who loaned the club €180 million)
- Maintains support from the majority of shareholders
“Many nights when I go to bed, my head asks if it’s worth continuing at Sevilla,” he admitted. “I accept being the villain in this Sevilla story, and I do it out of responsibility.”
Backing Almeyda
Despite Sevilla’s precarious position just above the drop zone, del Nido Carrasco expressed “absolute confidence” in manager Matías Almeyda:
“This Sevilla isn’t the trophy-winning Sevilla. This Sevilla has to perform magic just to register a player. We trust Matías.”
The president acknowledged relegation fears but remained defiant: “We were aware these circumstances could arise. But we’re convinced we’ll pull through.”
Club sale situation
Del Nido Carrasco distanced himself from the potential sale process involving his father (a major shareholder), claiming: “I have nothing to do with it, although I’m the club president.”
He confirmed knowledge of a due diligence process involving Ramos’ camp but directed questions about the potential sale to “buyer and seller” rather than himself.