The ex-Real Madrid man completed an emotional return to his boyhood side in the summer – but it could end in tears if they don't improve
After Sevilla tasted league defeat for the ninth time this season against Athletic Club at the beginning of the month, Sergio Ramos understandably cut a frustrated figure at full-time. But even by the legendary defender's own volatile standards, his post-match outburst at a group of his own supporters was quite something.
Distracted by chants from the emptying stands as he conducted an interview with DAZN, Ramos screeched: "Have a little respect, people are talking here! Have a little respect for the people and the badge. Shut up and go!"
The charged exchange is indicative of the uncomfortable atmosphere that has seeped into the nooks and crannies at Estadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan over the past 18 months.
Currently, Sevilla – who are on their third manager of the season already after 20 games – are just one point above the drop zone, having won just three times in La Liga. The Europa League holders couldn't actually go down, could they?!
Getty ImagesTumultuous 2022-23 season
Los Nervionenses are no strangers to relegation peril, with the club finding themselves in a similarly tricky situation last season. Few saw this coming. During the 2021-22 campaign, they had done well, emerging as genuine title challengers, before a late-season drop off condemned them to a fourth-placed finish.
2022-23 was far more testing. The prior campaign, the board had added several high earners to the wage bill as they targeted a league title.
Anthony Martial, Erik Lamela and Thomas Delaney were among the experienced operators snapped up, but this increased salary bill soon began to cause problems after Sevilla were knocked out in the Champions League group stages despite being handed the kind draw of Red Bull Salzburg, Wolfsburg and Lille. This was only made worse when West Ham eliminated them from the Europa League in the round of 16.
With money tight the following summer, Sevilla sold star centre-backs Jules Kounde and Diego Carlos to Barcelona and Aston Villa respectively. Julen Lopetegui – who came close to being sacked before sporting director Monchi stepped in to save his skin – struggled with this upheaval, with his side winning just one of their opening seven La Liga games.
He would pay for this run with his job in October, with Jorge Sampaoli brought in to replace him. The change of manager did little to bring consistency domestically and again, the Champions League was a struggle.
Off the field, things weren't much better. Isco was acrimoniously released from his contract in December, with Sampaoli claiming that he "did not meet the club's expectations". At this point, with concerns growing exponentially on and off the pitch, it felt like Sevilla were sliding towards the relegation trap door.
AdvertisementGettyBut somehow they turned it around
And yet, Sevilla would end the very same season toasting a comfortable league survival as well as another European trophy. Key to the remarkable turnaround was Sampaoli's departure.
His spell was punctuated by questionable selection decisions and chronic underperformance, so it was little surprise when the club finally let him go following a damaging defeat to struggling Getafe in March.
His replacement, Jose Luis Mendilibar, orchestrated a near-instant turnaround, with Sevilla winning four of his first five games in charge. Running alongside this quite remarkable La Liga form was another stunning Europa League run.
En route to the final, Sevilla shocked both Manchester United and Juventus over two legs, setting up a mouth-watering clash with Jose Mourinho's Roma in Budapest. In a frightfully unwatchable final marred by gamesmanship, the Spanish side would eventually triumph on penalties. It was a scarcely believable situation, but after all of their early-season struggles Sevilla had booked their place in next season's Champions League group stage.
GettySergio Ramos comes home
This record-extending seventh Europa League triumph should have provided Sevilla with an unlikely chance to reset. But it did not take long for further reports of unrest to surface. Indeed, less than a month after that famous night in Hungary it was reported that the entire first-team squad was up for sale as the club looked to deal with debts of up to €90 million (£77m/$98m).
These apparent financial problems did not prevent incoming sporting director Victor Orta getting his hands dirty in the summer, though. In total, eight new signings came through the door, including Loic Balde, Djibril Sow and Dodi Lukebakio.
However, by far and away the marquee arrival was Ramos. After flirting with Saudi Pro League teams all summer, the defender eventually opted for a sentimental return to his boyhood club, where he would earn considerably less than the riches he was offered in the Middle East.
'Son of a wh*re'
But if Ramos thought he might receive some credit for this seemingly well-intentioned decision, he was mistaken. As the move was being confirmed, Biris Norte, Sevilla's most fervent ultra group, released a fiery statement regarding his return: "We want to express our rejection of those who proposed this transfer. We are not motivated by hatred or rancour, but by love and pride for our club, its history and its fans.
"We believe that the mere proposal of this signing was already a lack of respect for the values that have made us great, for the symbols and legends that have defended our crest, and for the thousands of Sevillistas who have suffered the scorn of this player in the past."
The two parties have a bitter history. Back in January 2017, Ramos scored a Panenka penalty for Real Madrid in front of the Biris Norte. The ultras had goaded him with chants of 'Sergio Ramos, hijo de puta (Sergio Ramos, son of a whore)' all game, and when the cheeky spot-kick hit the back of the net, the defender stared down his tormentors, while making a special effort to indicate that his beef was not with Sevilla's other supporters sat in the two stands flanking the one behind the goal.
And Ramos certainly did not allow the incident to spoil his dream return to Andalusia, explaining his reasons for coming back in an teary first press conference.
"I've always moved for emotions and sensations. When they gave me the opportunity to choose a project is because I really believe in it. It's the first time I've appeared since I left Paris, where I had the opportunity to continue but I thought the cycle was over," he revealed.
"It wasn't a matter of money or a contract, but a question of philosophy, mentality, feeling. At Sevilla we come together in these values.
"I had the opportunity to return home, do it as a leader with the hope of lifting a title. I wake up every day for this goal, I believe we can do it. We know it is very difficult, but the first thing we can do is believe in it."