The tension between Sergio Ramos and the main shareholders of Sevilla FC escalated this Monday after both parties publicly presented completely opposite versions of the frustrated purchase and sale process of the entity.

Hours after the shareholder families accused the former soccer player of having breached the agreement reached to acquire the club and even stated that “Ramos deceived us,” the former Spanish international appeared before the media to defend his project and ensure that his investment group maintains the interest in taking over the institution.

Far from ending the operation, Ramos assured that he is still willing to negotiate and that he awaits a formal response from the club's current owners.

The origin of the conflict between Sergio Ramos and the shareholders

The controversy broke out after the Guijarro, Castro, Carrión, Alés and Del Nido Benavente families, who control the majority of the share capital of Sevilla FC, released a statement in which they blame the group headed by Sergio Ramos for breaking the agreement.

According to the shareholders, the former player's entourage communicated on May 27 their intention not to respect the conditions originally agreed upon for the purchase of the entity.

In addition, they denounced that during the process there were important changes in the structure of the investors that supported the operation, a situation that, according to their version, completely altered the agreement reached months before.

The owners also stated that the change in the profile of the financial group raised doubts about the future of the club's assets and announced possible legal actions for breach of contract and damages.

Sergio Ramos denies having abandoned the operation

During his appearance, Sergio Ramos assured that he has always acted with transparency and that he appeared publicly to offer first-hand explanations despite the accusations made hours before.

"I want to make it clear that I am here to talk only about Sevilla Fútbol Club. I am going to answer all the questions to the best of my ability, based on what I have told you, due to confidentiality issues that we have respected from the beginning and that we will continue to respect, there are some issues that I will not be able to go into in detail."

Likewise, he made direct reference to the statement issued by the shareholders.

“As always, and despite the warning that the current shareholders sent us in the form of a statement a few hours ago, shortly before this event, I want to come forward and convey the relevant messages in first person.”

Ramos defends his project to rescue Sevilla

The former captain of the Spanish National Team insisted that the proposal presented by his group sought to guarantee the economic, sporting and institutional stability of the club.

"As you know, I have a very special personal bond with Sevilla Fútbol Club. I believe that we have presented a very solid economic, sporting, social and institutional project that, with all my humility, we understand is the best to lay the foundations for Sevilla to regain its rightful place."

Ramos also recognized the complex situation that the entity is currently going through.

"Everyone knows the situation the entity is going through right now and it is very, very delicate. Sevilla has significant accumulated losses in recent seasons, as can be seen in the club's accounts, and as well as recurring losses expected in the coming years."

The offer that he claims to have presented exceeds $421 million dollars

One of the most relevant points of the appearance was the detailed explanation of the financial structure proposed by the investment group.

According to Ramos, the initial proposal contemplated the purchase of 85% of the share capital through a total investment of close to $418 million dollars, composed of a capital increase of $93 million dollars and a payment of approximately $325 million dollars to shareholders.

However, he explained that the project had to be modified following recommendations from LaLiga and its financial advisors.

"The approach had to be adapted according to the recommendation of LaLiga and our advisors, who recommend a capital increase of 120 million euros, not 80, before June 30 to guarantee the viability of the club."

This capital increase would be equivalent to nearly $140 million dollars.

The former player explained that the final proposal even increased the total planned investment.

"In this sense, the final approach presented on Wednesday of last week, with the corresponding unlimited and, I repeat, unlimited substantive proof, of Banco Santander and another top-level international bank to carry out the operation immediately, also consists of the acquisition of up to 85% of the shares through a capital increase of 120 million euros and the payment of the shareholders, in this case, in two phases."

The final offer would contemplate an initial disbursement of between $164 million and $355 million, followed by a second phase of at least $159 million for current shareholders.

“There would be a minimum investment of around 362 million (euros) without having modified the share price to prioritize the club's needs.”

Translated into dollars, the total minimum investment would be around $421 million.

Ramos assures that shareholders stopped responding

One of the most forceful statements made by the former soccer player was that, according to his version, the shareholders stopped communicating after receiving the last proposal.

“Unfortunately, since last Wednesday we have not received a response and the deadline and exclusivity period have ended.”

Despite this, he left the door open to resume conversations.

"But we want this intervention to also serve to convey that we are still here, that we want to continue negotiating and that we would like to receive some type of communication in this sense from the shareholders to continue advancing in a process that we understand is very necessary."

Two opposing versions about the future of Sevilla

While the shareholders maintain that the group led by Sergio Ramos unilaterally modified the agreed conditions and caused the collapse of the operation, the former soccer player assures that the conditions were evolving during the negotiation and that his final offer further strengthened the financial support for the club.

“Since we started the first talks until today, we have been in a negotiation and as such, the parameters, information and conditions have varied on both sides, not just on ours.”

The difference between both versions leaves open a dispute that could lead to legal consequences and that keeps the institutional future of Sevilla FC in uncertainty.

Sergio Ramos sends a message to Sevilla fans

Before ending his speech, the former player thanked the fans for the support and reiterated that his priority continues to be the well-being of the entity.

“To conclude, I want to especially thank Sevillismo for the support, love and enthusiasm they have shown us since the first day I got involved in this project.”

"With us or without us, what we want is to see a great and champion Sevilla, and for it to bring back the emotion to all of us. And as our song says, Sevilla until death."

For now, the conflict between Sergio Ramos and the shareholders of Sevilla FC remains open, with both parties defending opposite positions on an operation that promised to change the course of one of the most important clubs in Spanish football.