Sevilla pay tribute to former goalkeeper Sergio Rico ahead of Europa League final clash with Roma

Sevilla players paid tribute to their former team-mate Sergio Rico ahead of their Europa League final clash on Wednesday. 

The Spanish side faced Roma in the final of Europe’s second-tier competition at the Puskas Arena in Budapest. 

However, before the game kicked off the record winners took the opportunity to send out a message of solidarity to their ex-stopper Rico. 

The Spanish stopper suffered a head injury after falling off a horse and was transported to a hospital via helicopter in Seville on Sunday morning.

The Rojiblancos all revealed t-shirts beneath their match shirts displaying the message: ‘Come on, Sergio, we are with you!’.

Jesus Navas displayed the tribute message for Rico who has spent most of his career at Sevilla

It was the club’s first game since their former star’s accident was reported, and the club wasted no time in sending their thoughts to the 29-year-old. 

It was not an ideal start to the game that pitted their unbeaten Europa League final record against that of Roma boss Jose Mourinho.

Paulo Dybala, who had been a doubt ahead of the game, was on the scoresheet in the 35th minute to get the Italian side off to the perfect start at a febrile Puskas Arena.  

The player has spent most of his career at Sevilla, but has also spent spells on loan at the likes of Fulham and PSG, where he eventually signed permanently in 2020 on a £5.2million deal.

Rico was understood to have been undertaking a horseback pilgrimage journey to Huelva when he came off his horse.

PSG players had been given a day off by manager Christophe Galtier having wrapped up the Ligue 1 title on Saturday, following which the player returned to his hometown of Seville before starting his journey on his horse. 

Rico has received messages of support from the football community following his accident, with Sevilla wishing him a ‘speedy recovery’ on Twitter.

His wife Alba Silva has posted messages on social media as her husband remains in the hospital. 

Rico signed for Paris Saint-Germain on a permanent basis back in 2020 after an initial loan

Paulo Dybala gave Roma an early lead in the final at the Puskas Arena in Budapest

She had initially released a positive message online, which read: ‘Thank you for all the love you have for us. 

‘Sergio has a lot of people praying for him and he is very strong. I have no words to describe what I feel.’

However, on Tuesday she sent out a second, perhaps more concerning message, writing: ‘Don’t leave me alone, my love, because I swear I cannot. I don’t know how to live without you. We love you a lot.’

A gala dinner put on by Paris Saint-Germain was cancelled on Tuesday evening, with club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi sending out his support to Rico’s loved ones.