Hit or miss? How Sevilla replaced their 10 biggest sales under Monchi
Although never really competing with the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico for the LaLiga title, Sevilla have turned themselves into UEFA Cup/Europa League specialists.
A penalty shootout against Jose Mourinho’s Roma side earnt them their record breaking 7th title in the competition, at least four more than any other side as they continued their 100% record in finals.
A lot of their success has to be contributed to Monchi, who in his time at the club has developed their youth set up and improved the club’s scouting, signing a host of top level players and making over €200m profit in the transfer market.
Players such as Sergio Ramos, Julio Baptista, Dani Alves and Ivan Rakitic, to name a few have arrived in Seville during his time and with his recent links to a move to join up with former head coach Unai Emery at Aston Villa, we’ve looked at how he and the club have managed to replace some of their high profile departures since he originally joined the club in 2000.
Here’s the top 10.
2005/06
Sold: Sergio Ramos (€27m) | Signed: Julien Escude (€2.1m)
Sevilla appearances: 237
Verdict? Hit
After academy product Sergio Ramos left to join Los Blancos for a then record fee for a Spanish defender, Sevilla needed someone to anchor their defence for years to come and Julien Escude did just that.
The Frenchman spent six years at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium, winning five trophies, including the UEFA Cup in back-to-back seasons in 2005/06 and 2006/07, starting and helping them keep a clean sheet against Middlesbrough in a 4-0 win.
Apart from missing the majority of the 2007/08 season through injury, he was a key component in the Sevilla defence, with his superb performances helping him earn 13 international caps for France.
2008/09
Sold: Dani Alves (€35.5m) | Signed: Abdoulay Konko (€8.5m)
Sevilla appearances: 67
Verdict? Miss
Replacing Dani Alves was never going to be easy and Abdoulay Konko found just that.
After moving from Serie A side Genoa, the French full-back found himself in and out of the side as he battled Aquivaldo Mosquera for the right-back spot, with the Colombian being favoured more times than not. His spell in Spain was blighted by injury, missing huge chunks of the season, before eventually returning to Genoa in January 2011.
His time will most likely be remembered for his two red cards in two separate matches against Barcelona, one of in 2010, where the player he was bought in to replace, Dani Alves, scored in a 5-0 defeat.
2015/16
Sold: Carlos Bacca (€33.3m) | Signed: Ciro Immobile (€11m)
Sevilla appearances: 15
Verdict? Miss
After a less than impressive spell with Borussia Dortmund, where he scored 10 goals in 34 appearances, Immobile was keen to try his luck in LaLiga after it not really clicking in the Bundesliga.
Despite scoring his first goal for the club in a 3-2 win over Real Madrid, Ciro Immobile’s Sevilla career never really got going as he scored just four goals in his 15 appearances for the club.
Originally joining on loan, the Italian’s move was made permanent for a reported fee of €11m after making more than five appearances for the club, but his time in Spain lasted just one season before he was loaned to Torino before he was eventually sold to Lazio, where he has excelled, scoring more than 100 times.
2016/17
Sold: Kevin Gameiro (€32m) | Signed: Wissam Ben Yedder (€9.5m)
Sevilla appearances: 138
Verdict? Hit
With Kevin Gameiro leaving for LaLiga rivals Atletico, Sevilla were in need of a goalscorer and they found just that in Wissam Ben Yedder.
After becoming Toulouse’s highest ever goalscorer in the 21st century, the Frenchman wanted a new challenge and signed for Sevilla on a 5-year-deal. In his three years in Seville, he scored an impressive 70 times in 138 appearances for the club across all competitions, including eight in eight in the Europa League and 10 in 14 matches in the Champions League.
His most famous moment’s came in the UCL, scoring twice in two minutes at Old Trafford to help his side earn their first ever Champions League match in England, whilst also becoming the first Sevilla player to score a hat-trick in the competition, against Maribor.
His time in Spain came to an abrupt end in 2019 when AS Monaco activated his release clause, but he will go down as one of the clubs most lethal finishers, especially in European competitions.
2016/17
Sold: Grzegorz Krychowiak (€27.5m) | Signed: Matias Kranevitter (loan)
Sevilla appearances: 32
Verdict? Miss
There were high hopes for the Argentinian midfielder when he left River Plater to join Atletico, but after 1 1/2 unsuccessful years in Madrid, he was loaned out to Sevilla where he spent just one season before moving to Zenit in Russia.
Kranevitter made 14 league starts for his new side, picking up six yellow cards as he struggled to adapt to Spanish football. Spending most his time in and out of the team, it was hard for him to get his rhythm as he never played more than three consecutive league matches.
He has now returned to Argentina and River Plate, where it all began.
2017/18
Sold: Vitolo (€35.6m) | Signed: Nolito (€7m)
Sevilla appearances: 79
Verdict? Miss
After struggling to break into the Man City side, Nolito returned to LaLiga determined to show his quality.
It started off well for the Spaniard, scoring four goals and provided five league assists in his first season, but things went downhill from there, missing most of the 2018/19 season through injury, making just 14 league starts in his final two seasons at the club.
He would then return to former club Celta Vigo and is currently still playing, turning out for Ibiza in the lower divisions.
2018/19
Sold: Clement Lenglet (€35.6m) | Signed: Jules Kounde (€35m)
Sevilla appearances: 133
Verdict? Hit
Having joined one year later after Clement Lenglet joined Barcelona, Jules Kounde fitted in instantly in Seville as he progressed into one of the best centre-backs in the league.
The Frenchman had more touches inside the opposition box, completed more take-ons, made the most forward passes and made more final third passes than any other centre-back in the division during his time with the club, as he became the ideal modern CB.
His first season saw him named in the Europa League Team of the Season as he helped the club lift the title for the sixth time in 2020.
This didn’t go unnoticed by Barcelona, who spent €50m on his services, to make him Sevilla’s record sale.
2019/20
Sold: Wissam Ben Yedder (€40m) | Signed: Luuk de Jong (€12.5m)
Sevilla appearances: 94
Verdict? Hit
Luuk de Jong was key in Sevilla’s 2019/20 Europa League winning campaign, scoring the winning goal against Manchester United in the semi-final, before being named MOTM in final, scoring twice against Inter and the Spanish side continued their love affair with the competition.
He was a clutch player for the Rojiblancos, also scoring either opener or the equaliser against Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atleti in LaLiga and the go-ahead against Real Betis.
The Dutchman then joined Barcelona on loan during the 2021/22 campaign, before recently returning to PSV.
BetMGM sign-up offer: Get £40 in bonuses when you bet £10
Not signed up to BetMGM yet? Here's how eligible readers* can take advantage of their welcome offer:
- Open an account at BetMGM using this link.
- Select the Sports Welcome Offer.
- Get the offer from the ‘My Offers’ page.
- Deposit and place a £10 bet at odds of 1/1 (2.0) or greater.
- When it settles, unlock £40 in bonuses
New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10+ at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 Acca, 1 x £10 Horse Racing, 1 x £10 Football, 1 x £10 Bet Builder. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.
2022/23
Sold: Jules Kounde (€50m) | Signed: Tanguy Nianzou (€16m)
Sevilla appearances: 30
Verdict? TBD
Having already played for both PSG and Bayern before he turned 21, Nianzou joined Sevilla in hope for some more first team football.
Still finding his feet in Spain, the centre-back started off well before an injury and a red card stopped his progress. Another hamstring towards the end of the season limited his minutes as he remained on the bench for the Europa League final against Roma.
2022/23
Sold: Diego Carlos (€35.6m) | Signed: Marcao (€12m)
Sevilla appearances: 11
Verdict? TBD
Marcao has struggled to build up any sort of steam during his time in Spain, missing a total of 39 matches through various injuries, including a thigh muscle problem that made him miss the majority of the end of this campaign, coming on in stoppage time in extra-time in the Europa League final against Roma.
