Sergio Ramos Meets Sevilla Shareholders Over Takeover

Sevilla’s ownership fight just moved from rumor to something much more concrete. Sergio Ramos spent Monday, May 11, in a long meeting with the club’s main shareholders, trying to push forward the deal that could put him at the center of a takeover. That matters because Sevilla is not dealing with a calm handover. The club is still under sporting pressure, its finances look strained, and the window for Ramos’s group to get a deal done is now pretty tight. ### Who was actually in the room? This was not a casual catch-up. The meeting brought together Ramos and the shareholder blocs identified as the Carrión, Alés and Castro families. Martín Ink, the founder and managing director of Five Eleven Capital, was there too, along with Julio Senn, Ramos’s lawyer. Alberto Pérez Solano, the Sevilla board secretary who has been helping search for a buyer, also took part. The meeting started around 11:00 and ran until roughly 19:00. (marca.com) ### Why is Ramos involved at all? Ramos is the public face of a bid that has been building for months. Back in January, his side signed a letter of intent with key shareholders, which made his proposal the leading live option after earlier talks with other groups broke down. That letter gave Ramos and Five Eleven a period of exclusivity to study the books and negotiate a final deal. (marca.com) ### What is Five Eleven Capital doing here? Basically, Ramos is not buying Sevilla alone out of his own pocket. Five Eleven is the investment group behind the operation, with Ramos acting as the figure who gives the bid local identity and political weight inside Sevilla. Reports around the process have put the proposal in the range of about €450 million, but that number was never final because it depended on what the due diligence turned up. (abc.es) ### So what did the audit find? Turns out this is where the deal gets messy. After reviewing Sevilla’s accounts, Five Eleven’s side found accounting disagreements that could change the final valuation. The issues flagged include how some assets are valued and whether the club has set aside enough for future risks, including unresolved tax inspections. Sevilla has also posted losses for five straight seasons, with accumulated losses of €135 million across the last two campaigns mentioned in the reporting. (diariodesevilla.es) ### How bad are Sevilla’s finances? Bad enough that price is now the real battleground. One report says the club’s net worth at June 30 stood at negative €122.81 million, while Sevilla’s president had put debt around €88 million, with other estimates suggesting it could be higher. The club has kept itself afloat with financing tools including a €127 million loan tied to CVC. That does not kill a sale, but it does explain why Ramos’s group may want to trim the price. (diariodesevilla.es) ### Why does May matter so much? Because the exclusivity clock is running out. Marca says an agreement needs to be reached during May, before other buyers can re-enter once Ramos’s protected window ends. So Monday’s meeting was not just another checkpoint — it looked like one of the last big negotiating sessions before the process either closes or opens back up to rivals. (diariodesevilla.es) ### What would Ramos want if he gets in? Not a ceremonial role. The reporting around the bid keeps pointing the same way — Ramos wants influence over major decisions. Monchi, speaking publicly about the situation, said Ramos wants to be in the middle of decision-making at Sevilla. Even current president José María del Nido Carrasco has acknowledged that if the club is sold, he likely would not remain. (marca.com) ### Bottom line? This is now a live control battle, not just transfer-window gossip. Ramos has money behind him, a seat at the table, and a shrinking deadline. But the catch is simple — the more Sevilla’s real numbers worry the buyers, the harder it gets to turn optimism into a signed deal. (marca.com) (marca.com)