Mayra Ramirez, the world’s most expensive player, was discovered on YouTube and in Huelva: “She told me: ‘Yes sir, yes ma’am'” | Relief
“We saw her in the Colombia U-20 national team. After that, we asked the representative for a video of her team (Atlético Medellin) and “Antonio saw her, and since she’s his favorite striker… well, he didn’t think much of it.”, recalls Manoli, president of Sporting Huelva. Because before Mayra Ramirez became the most expensive acquisition in the world, she played for the Huelva team. As Relevo announced, Chelsea will pay Levante 500 thousand euros for the addition of the Colombian footballer. Historical figure in women’s football.
Several YouTube videos and blind trust in her helped him sign a contract with Sporting Huelva. On July 14, 2020, the Huelva team announced its merger. She was 21 years old and described herself as an “aggressive, fast player” who was there to “score a lot of goals.” In his two seasons in Huelva, he scored 12 goals and became an important player for Antonio Toledo, his discoverer. “Diamond. He reminded me of Martin Prieto, who brought us so much joy.” – adds the team’s former coach and current athletic director.
“He told me, ‘Yes, ma’am. Yes, sir.” And I told him no, to call me by my name.”
President of Sporting Huelva
“When I first saw her train, my mouth was open. Well, me and everyone else. There was a moment when we even started laughing because it was like knocking down bowling pins along the way. Impressive power,” the other side of the phone tells Manoli in detail. Beyond the football level, Sporting Huelva remembers the man. “Modest, simple, she never asked for anything strange. Very respectful. He told me, “Yes, ma’am. Yes, sir’. And I told him no, let him call me by name,” they recall, laughing.
And to add more charm to this story, Mayra Ramirez he tore his anterior cruciate ligament before signing a contract with Sporting Huelva. Her then agent offered her to many Spanish teams. However, due to fear of relapse and lack of knowledge about it, many rejected it. And only one dared: Sporting Huelva Antonio Toledo.
Compensation list and fate of Levante
Mayra Ramirez signed a two-year contract. And at that time, the famous compensation lists were at their peak: the amount that one Spanish club (excluding foreigners) had to pay another for the right to train an under-23 player whose contract was ending. Amounts – offensive – that fluctuated from 250,000 euros to half a million. Many players, such as Damaris Egurrola, were forced to emigrate and publicly condemned the situation.
“Both Antonio and I spoke to her as if she were our daughter (…). She listened and took advice and I think it went very well for her.”
“When we sat down to talk to her, when her first contract ended, Antonio and I talk to her as if she were our daughter. The best thing for her would be one more year here, and then she would surely go very far. She listened and took advice, and I think it went very well for her,” Manoli recalls.
Sporting Huelva decided to remove her from the compensation list, allowing her to leave the club without any obstacles if she wishes. “First of all, we wanted their future and well-being, it was unethical”, adds Manoli. “That’s not our philosophy. We knew she would go to a big club in Europe, but we needed to enjoy the time she was here and she gave everything for the club,” she says.
And Levante appeared in them. Granota’s team acquired the services of the Colombian striker… for a total of zero euros. Levante will now receive around half a million euros after selling it to Chelsea. Game in a round. In a grano role and under the guidance of Sánchez Vera, Mayra Ramirez finished her career as one of the deadliest strikers in Europe.
