After years of conflict, professional footballer Sergio Ramos has issued a video apology to Sevilla supporters in an effort to mend relations.
In 2005, for a transfer fee of €27 million, Ramos departed Sevilla for Real Madrid, sparking tensions with the Sevillistas.
Then Sergio Ramos stated in his statement that he wanted to stay in Sevilla. However, the Former President of Sevilla, Jose Maria del Nido, accused Ramos of lying and stated that he voluntarily paid his release clause. Ramos maintains that the sale was mutual.
In 2018, Ramos scored two goals against Sevilla while celebrating provocatively in front of their supporters, prompting them to hurl objects and insults at him.
As a consequence, Sevilla partially shut down the stand, and Ramos was reported to the Anti-Violence Committee. Later, Ramos stated that certain Sevilla supporters were not deserving of his respect.
“Today is a very special day. I’m finally coming home, I’m looking forward to feeling the Sevilla shirt again and pulling on this badge. 18 years have passed since I left, I think I’ve made mistakes and I want to take the opportunity to apologise and apologise to any Sevilla player who has felt offended by things and gestures I could have done at the time. We are all in the same boat, we are all from the same family and we have too many people outside to fight amongst ourselves.”
“I come to help out, to pull in the same direction and I am looking forward to putting on the Sevilla shield, stepping on the Sanchez Pizjuan and meeting with all of you again. It was not only a debt that I had with myself but also with my family, with my grandfather that made me a Sevilla supporter since I was little, with my father…It didn’t make sense to take another direction. I hope to see you very soon. I’m here to give my best and try to achieve my objectives with the team.”
Ramos appears to have accepted a significant pay cut to facilitate his return to Sevilla. The 37-year-old hopes to help Sevilla recover from a difficult start in La Liga, in which they have suffered three consecutive losses.
