Hot blood in Sevilla: Ramos returns after 18 years and asks for forgiveness
Sergio Ramos is officially back in LaLiga as he has signed with his boyhood club, Sevilla. The iconic defender seized the moment to ask the Sevillistas for forgiveness for mistakes made in the past.
Ramos has returned to where it all began. Despite receiving enormous offers from Saudi Arabia, the ex-Real Madrid skipper has opted for Sevilla, arriving on a free transfer with a 1-year contract. And it has a nice ring to it. Sergio Ramos back in La Liga. Back in Sevilla, where he received his football education and where he made his professional debut before transferring to Los Blancos in 2005 at the age of 19.
Hate him or love him. One has to respect a man who choses with his heart instead of the wallet. Particularly in the current football landscape. His return to LaLiga is a welcome sight, and as Matthew Clark mentioned in our most recent podcast, it’s going to be fun.
It’s always a spectacle, if not a drama, when the seasoned defender is on the pitch. With 28 red cards to his name, he holds the dubious honour of being the most dismissed player in European football. Add to that the fact that Ramos is LaLiga's highest scoring defender in the 21st century with 74 goals across 508 appearances, and you can be assured of some thrilling action.
The 37-year-old will have some work to do to win over the Sevillistas though. His actions during a 2017 match, where he made provocative gestures at the fans at Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán after scoring an 83rd-minute Panenka penalty, annoyed the fans so much that the relationship never recovered.
"I think I've made mistakes and I want to take the opportunity to apologize, to any Sevilla player or fan who felt offended by gestures or things I have done in the past." - Sergio Ramos.
In a video shared on Sevilla’s Twitter profile, Sergio Ramos explained that he signed with the club due to his father and his grandfather, who made him a Sevillista. He also cited his friendship with former Sevilla teammate Antonio Puerta, who tragically passed away during a match in 2007.
Ramos, who will don the number 4 jersey, seized this opportunity to apologise to the Sevillistas for the 2017 incident.
Whether or not the passionate fans at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán can find it in their heart to forgive Ramos remains to be seen. However, there's no denying that his return will add an extra spark to LaLiga.
Despite what one might think about him, one can’t deny that he is entertaining to watch. As a leader on the pitch and a warrior at heart, he will bring with him his classic 95th-minute goals from bullet headers as well has his fair share of red cards.
Given Sevilla's poor start to the season, Ramos' arrival could also make sense from a purely football perspective. Currently, the Andalusians are 20th in the league, having conceded 8 goals in just 3 games. They clearly need guidance and leadership at the back.
That’s exactly what Ramos brings to the table, but will he be the man to tie up the defence? And will they forgive him at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán?
He will have his first chance to prove his worth after the international break, when the Andalusians welcome Las Palmas. However, the real test will come in mid-October, when Sevilla host Real Madrid. A 95th-minute header in front of the home crowd and he’ll surely have won them over?