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‘Never surrender’ – Sevilla targeting first LaLiga title since 1946 with Anthony Martial transfer statement of intent

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SEVILLA are really living up to their club motto “Never Surrender” this season.

The Spanish side, who recently signed Anthony Martial from Manchester United, sit just four points behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid and are on the hunt for their first title since 1946. 

Sevilla signed Manchester United forward Anthony Martial on loan for the rest of the seasonCredit: Getty

Sevilla have won a record six Europa Leagues so are no strangers to success in that arena.

But with ten points separating themselves and defending champions Atletico Madrid in fourth, there is a belief that with Julen Lopetegui at the helm, the current squad can smash through their glass ceiling. 

The club’s general business manager Jorge Paradela said: “This is a club who have become top ten in UEFA rankings. 

“We are a club who challenge the status quo. 

“This is a team who never surrenders and a team who encourages our fans to aim at the highest goals and break barriers.

“We have demonstrated we can achieve more with less.” 

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And they definitely have done more with less this year with last season’s top scorer Youssef En-Nesyri ruled out since September and the squad being decimated by injuries and Covid. 

Only crisis-club Barcelona have used more than Sevilla’s 31 players in La Liga this season. 

But that has not stopped them from keeping pace with galacticos Madrid. 

It is important that we show to the world that Seville is here and they have to come with us 

Ivan Rakitic

Their defensive record of 16 goals conceded from 22 games is only bettered by Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in Europe’s top five leagues. 

Top clubs have usually snapped up Sevilla’s top players with the likes of Dani Alves and Ivan Rakitic going to Barca or Jesus Navas or Alvaro Negrado joining Manchester City. 

But football director Monchi has recently developed a stubbornness in the transfer window after rebuffing Chelsea’s £50million bid for Jules Kounde last summer and more recently not allowing Diego Carlos to join Saudi-rich Newcastle. 

And the signing of Martial on loan for the rest of the season is a statement of their intent. 

Director of football Monchi is responsible for all transfers at the club
Sevilla rejected bids as high as £30million from Newcastle for defender Diego CarlosCredit: Getty

Monchi revealed: “We haven’t changed our policy 

“Sevilla cannot change the way it works. The reason why players have not left is because they are at the right level in the squad. 

“Kounde, one of the best defenders in European football, the fact he plays for us speaks for itself.” 

Club captain Ratikic, who returned to the city after six years at Barca, says he was surprised with how much Sevilla improved during his time away. 

The Croatian midfielder said: “When I came back here I was really surprised at what the club did in the last years. 

“There are even more possibilities to go even bigger. 

“Players the club can sign are now different from seven or eight years ago. Big players now want to be a part of us. 

“The signing of Martial is there to show to the football world that Seville is going in the right way. 

“It is important that we show to the world that Seville is here and they have to come with us.” 

Watch Sevilla FC and the LaLiga title run-in exclusively on LaLigaTV, available via Premier Sports and Amazon Prime Video Channels.

Anthony Martial completes Sevilla loan transfer after taking pay cut to escape Man Utd

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk

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