Sevilla president Del Nido Carrasco on Fofana signing: "We lacked talking to the Pope"

Sevilla presented Youssouf Fofana on Monday as the biggest surprise of the final day of the transfer window. The French midfielder arrived after a race against the clock that president José María del Nido Carrasco explained in the press room, where he admitted the club moved heaven and earth to meet a specific request from the coaching staff.

• Fofana joined Sevilla in the final hours of the last day of the market.
• The coach had asked for a defensive midfielder to complete the squad.
• The player's move to Olympique Lyon collapsed and Sevilla seized the opportunity.
• Del Nido Carrasco says the club only lacked "talking to the Pope" to convince the player.
• Sevilla used almost its entire salary limit and does not expect major moves in January.

How the Youssouf Fofana deal came together for Sevilla

Del Nido Carrasco walked the media through the conclusion of a negotiation that was resolved in a matter of hours. He explained that the coach had requested a holding midfielder to finalize the squad, a demand that forced the club to work against the clock during the final day of the window.

According to the president, the opportunity opened up when the move Fofana had lined up with Olympique Lyon fell through and the player suddenly became available. From that moment, Sevilla activated every possible channel to convince the French international. The paperwork was submitted to LaLiga's platform minutes before midnight, with the clock as the main opponent.

The coach had asked us for a number six, a holding midfielder, to complete the squad. We moved heaven and earth until the Olympique Lyon move for Fofana collapsed. It was 8:12 or 8:13 pm, and the documents went in at 11:57 pm. As the boss said, we only lacked talking to the Pope to convince Youssouf.

Why Youssouf Fofana chose to sign for Sevilla

The new Sevilla midfielder also reviewed his first hours at the Andalusian club in an interview with the club's official media. He described his final day of the window as a chaotic journey full of unexpected turns, though it ended with the feeling that he had picked the right destination.

Fofana highlighted the weight of Sevilla's history and admitted that the club's current situation motivated him rather than putting him off. He wants to be part of a project aiming to turn things around and restore the club to the positions it has occupied in recent years. His arrival strengthens a midfield that needed a player with defensive presence and range.

Salary limit almost spent and the January window option

The financial effort to sign Fofana left Sevilla with no room for maneuver. Del Nido Carrasco confirmed that the club used almost the entirety of the salary limit generated by summer departures, which conditions any potential signing in January.

Even so, the president did not close the door to strengthening the squad in winter if performances demand it. He noted that in that case the club would need to free up salary space before making a move. The sporting department will wait to see how the group responds in the first half of the season under the coach.

What Fofana brings to the Sevilla midfield

The Frenchman's arrival answers a need identified by the coaching staff since the start of preseason. Sevilla were looking for a pivot capable of providing balance, winning the ball back and playing out from the back, a profile Fofana has developed in Ligue 1 and with the French national team.

His versatility allows the coach to change the midfield shape without losing solidity. The player lands with the intention of becoming a key piece in the rebuilding of a project that wants to compete again near the top of LaLiga.