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Sergio Ramos was without a club after leaving Paris Saint-Germain this summer

Photo: FRANCK FIFE / AFP

Former Spanish World Cup winner Sergio Ramos, who was recently without a club, is joining his youth club Sevilla FC. This was confirmed by Sevilla early Monday evening. Previously, the 37-year-old had traveled to the capital of Andalusia to undergo the obligatory medical check. Ramos signed a contract until the end of the season.

With his return home, he paid off a "debt" to his father, his grandfather, Sevilla and his former teammate Antonio Puerta, who died in 2007 after a collapse in a league game, Ramos said, "to many things that meant a lot to me. It was about time."

At the age of seven, Ramos was accepted into the Sevilla academy, and at 16 he made his professional debut. From 1996 to 2005 he wore the jersey of Sevilla and played there in 49 competitive games for the professionals. For a transfer fee of 27 million euros, he then moved to Real Madrid. Quite a few Sevillistas resent him to this day.

The former World Cup and two-time European champion, who played 180 times (23 goals) for Spain, was without a club after leaving Paris Saint-Germain this summer. He had previously played for Real Madrid for 16 years.

Sevilla fans booed him, club management had concerns

When he returned to the »Sanchez Pizjuan« as a Real player, it was accompanied by shrill whistling concerts. Again and again he also messed with the audience. This is probably one of the reasons why the Sevilla club management had reservations about the transfer. Ramos had offered himself early, but in Sevilla there were fears that the fans would reject him. In addition, five central defenders were already available. In the meantime, Ramos has been repeatedly linked with a move to Saudi Arabia.

In any case, there was no shortage of expressions of love for Seville and the region of Andalusia from Ramos' side. Again and again he celebrated victories with the traditional bullfighting cloth »Muleta«. He once announced: "On the day of my funeral, I will be buried with the flags of Real Madrid and Sevilla."

"It's a special day – that's what it always is when you return home," Ramos said upon his arrival. "I'm looking forward to coming back as soon as possible and getting involved."

It remains to be seen whether the fans will take him back to their hearts. Sevilla, who are at the bottom of the table without points after three competitive games, can definitely use a leading player.

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