VÍCTOR ORTA: "VARGAS IS A PROVEN PLAYER WITH EXPERIENCE"

Víctor Orta spoke to the media after Rubén Vargas's appearance at the event presenting the Swiss international as a Sevilla player. The sporting director, when asked about the former Augsburg player, stated, "we have known about him for quite some time, gathered information, and knew his contract was set to expire in the summer. We moved quickly because we knew other teams would show interest. We were confident he would add value, as he is a proven player with experience. He can adapt quickly due to his Dominican heritage and familiarity with Spanish. We believed he was the perfect fit for our model, the club, and our financial situation."

When asked about the overall performance at this midpoint of the season, he acknowledged, "it’s clear that there have been areas of underperformance, while others have been good. We’re halfway through the season, and we need to wait until it’s over. We’re excited about the second half, with signings that will deliver much more than they’ve shown so far. I remain optimistic about the squad and the coaching staff as we work on improving and achieving the best possible results." He also denied receiving any offers for Kike Salas or Badé, stating: "There have been no offers received by the club. There are a lot of rumors, but no actual offers."

He did not hide that what happened in Almería was a significant setback but expressed confidence in the second half of the season,"we are immensely disappointed by the elimination from the Copa. It has been a major disappointment. The first half of the season has had its ups and downs. We have seven more points than last year, but we wanted much more. We wanted to be more solid, and there may have been games where we should have performed better. I understand the criticism, and we can only focus on Girona and on delivering a stronger performance in the second half of the season compared to the first."

"The first half of the season has had its ups and downs, we wanted much more, and we can only focus on delivering a better performance."

He was also asked about the future role of Navas at the club: "Jesús is taking a period of rest, and when he returns, he will surely quickly reconnect with the president. He has left a legacy, and there are really important players like Gudelj, who has been here for a long time. Suso, Badé, Saúl, Nyland... Players who need to step up and become leaders. No one will be as important in the next hundred years as Jesús, but he has left us a legacy, and in his way, he will remain close to the team. I believe he will continue to add value in that sense."

Regarding potential departures, such as Suso's, he commented, "the market is open, and we have the obligation to evaluate all offers and consider all three parties involved. Players have their options to decide their futures, and with the market open, anything can happen." As for Barco, he confirmed,
"Brighton wants the player to have more minutes, and they are looking for solutions. I know they are in contact with several teams, and they will inform us of their decision soon. "Although there was room to sign Vargas, he assured that all departures will help with arrivals, "we know how LALIGA's financial control works. We have some margin with the Ocampos situation, which allowed for Vargas's arrival, but to comply with the regulations, all departures can benefit incoming signings."

To conclude, he spoke about the coach: "I see him well, strong, reflective, and looking for solutions. He feels that the club's confidence in him is complete, and I see him with energy, determination, and an intention to provide the tools to the players to achieve the best results. Like everyone, losses affect him, but he is eager to find the formula to achieve the best results."