Coming home to Sevilla: Ramos said no to Saudi millions to honour his late teammate and his ancestors
Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 04.09.23. | 17:30
It's a big plot twist - the legendary defender is coming back to Sevilla
He's home! Veteran defender Sergio Ramos has decided to join his boyhood club, Sevilla 18 years after leaving. The man who played 16 years for Real Madrid has landed in Seville, ready to rejoin his first professional club.
🎥 @SergioRamos vuelve a casa. ⚪️🔴#WeareSevilla pic.twitter.com/eeJ0l40fFM
— Sevilla Fútbol Club (@SevillaFC) September 4, 2023
The former Spain international will sign a one-year contract at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, with another year an option. The 37-year-old centre-back will most likely be unveiled on Tuesday.
🚨 ÚLTIMA HORA
— Orgullo de Nervión (@Orgullo_Nervion) September 4, 2023
🔴 Sergio Ramos acaba de aterrizar en el aeropuerto de San Pablo para firmar por el Sevilla FC.
🗣️: "Venir aquí era una deuda con mi padre, con mi abuelo y con Puerta"
Vía @MarioMijenz pic.twitter.com/XeoXQtbWs3
According to AS, Ramos has already had a verbal agreement with Saudi Pro League holders Al-Ittihad and had an offer from Turkish giants Galatasaray on the table. Still, the last-minute call from Andalucia made him apologize to the Saudis and go where his heart has led him.
Sevilla has been denying their desire to bring Sergio Ramos back for months. Their president even made jokes, saying they didn't want Ramos even if the defender wanted to return. But when things got serious, the club leaders knew signing such a quality player was too good an opportunity to pass on.
As Ramos landed in Seville, he told reporters that returning to the club is his way of paying back a debt to his father, grandfather and Antonio Puerta, his old Sevilla teammate, who tragically died after suffering a series of cardiac arrest during a match in 2007.
"It's a very special day for me. Coming home is a tremendous joy. It didn't make sense to go anywhere without coming here first. It was a debt to my grandfather, my father, Sevilla, Puerta, and many things that have meant a lot. I think it was time. We leave the rest for later."
Ramos has earned a lot of money playing for Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain. He could have made a lot more had he wanted to go to Saudi Arabia, but he decided to sign for less and play for his club in the UEFA Champions League. It's a gesture that might push a minority of Sevilla fans to forgive him for the rudeness and arrogance he used to display whenever he returned to Pizjuan wearing a Real Madrid jersey.
