Sergio Ramos and Sevilla: the plot twist in a deal that seemed done
- Sevilla's purchase by Mexican investors was practically closed but has been left in the air
- The collapse of the Mexican investors is the main reason for the change in the operation
- Sergio Ramos is involved in this unexpected turn of events
Last week it looked done and dusted. Sergio Ramos walked out of a Seville hotel all smiles, thumbs up, photos all over the wires. The agreement between the former defender and investment group Five Eleven Capital to buy 60% of Sevilla FC seemed like a matter of hours. Valuation: between €400-450 million. Debt audited by KPMG: €85 million. Everything squared away.
What went wrong? The Mexican investors dropped out. Ramos's group came with capital from various nationalities. The Mexicans have jumped ship. Without them, Five Eleven Capital doesn't have the cash available to cover the €275+ million going to the sellers — not counting the assumed debt or the subsequent capital increase.
Ramos has exclusivity until May 31st. Ten days to find new financing or watch other groups — there were several interested parties — sneak through the door. The irony is brutal: the man who never lost in the dying seconds, who scored in the 93rd minute of a Champions final, now has to salvage a business deal in added time.
Good news for Ramos, if this keeps moving: Sevilla is already mathematically safe after matchday 37 with 43 points. The spectre of relegation hanging over the club's valuation has vanished. That takes some pressure off the numbers — a Sevilla in the top flight is worth considerably more than one in the second tier. But he still needs investors, and he needs them before May 31st. The clock is ticking. The investors are too.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sergio Ramos going to buy Sevilla FC?
The acquisition of 60% of Sevilla FC by Sergio Ramos and the Five Eleven Capital group remained up in the air, with no date set for completion and no notarial signature.
How much was Sevilla valued at in the takeover?
The club's valuation was around 400 to 450 million euros, with an audited debt by KPMG of approximately 85 million.
Why did the Ramos takeover of Sevilla become complicated?
The notarial signature did not take place and was not scheduled, and the operation remained very much up in the air according to ElDesmarque reports.
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