- Geim exaggerated
- BBC Sport
At the age of 36 and with 180 caps, two World Cups, two European Championships, four UEFA Champions Leagues, five La Liga championships and one Ligue 1 title, most footballers would be happy to enjoy retirement from their luxurious homes.
But the personality of Sergio Ramos is a far cry from other billionaire footballers.
And when the title of “Best Defender Ever” was announced at the Globe Soccer Awards in December, the Spaniard said: “I still have a lot of dreams and goals to achieve.”
However, Ramos ended his international career after being told by new Spain manager Luis de la Fuente that he was out of the national team’s squad plans and that his future at PSG looked increasingly uncertain.
So what will be the next step for one of football’s most decorated players?
Bitter parting with Spain
Many thought that former Spain coach Luis Enrique would end Ramos’ international career, but although Enrique did not take him to the World Cup in Qatar, it was de la Fuente who finally told him it was over.
The trainer called him on Thursday at around 1:00 pm to inform him of the news. Many in the Spanish Football Federation believe that Ramos’ influence was not always positive and that De la Fuente wanted to start with a clean slate.
And Ramos’ character has always indicated that he will never leave quietly.
And after five hours of a “friendly” conversation with the new coach, Ramos wrote on social media: “With great regret, it is the end of a journey that I had hoped would be longer and end with a better taste in the mouth, on par with all the successes we had with the Reds ( Spanish national team).
With the help and instigation of some influential sectors of the sports media who have always supported Ramos, he added: “With all humility, this was a journey that deserved to end because of my personal decision or because my performance was not at the required level, and it may be related to age or other reasons that they may not have told me, but I I felt it.”
The RFEF’s reaction to his remarks was predictable. “You could see that coming,” said one of the officials close to the federation. “Elegance has never been his forte.”
It is suspected that Ramos’ statement was part of his plan to pour cold water on the new Spanish national team project before it even started.
The Sevilla central defender has not played a match for Spain since March 2021, when he played four minutes against Kosovo to add his 180th appearance to his old record.
Injury will keep him out of this summer’s European Championship and he has yet to be called up again, despite a lot of pressure to bring him back.
His injury during his first season at PSG in the 2021-22 season didn’t help either, but it is unfortunate that the bitterness surrounding his departure gets more attention than the glories he achieved during his brilliant 16-year career with the national team.
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Sergio Ramos made 671 appearances in a glittering spell with Real Madrid before heading to Paris Saint-Germain
Ramos arrived at Paris Saint-Germain with a point to prove last season after a long and arduous battle with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.
Whereas in the past Perez used the strength and influence of both Ramos and Cristiano Ronaldo in the dressing room to his advantage, the disproportionate influence exercised by the centre-back meant Perez was keen as his contract expired to get rid of him.
In the end, he had an operation on his left knee in February 2021, which meant that he left Real Madrid whimpering and joined Paris Saint-Germain in July of that year to suffer from muscle injuries until March 2022, which made him participate in Only 13 games in that period.
And although Ramos reassured his colleagues and friends in a group on WhatsApp in December 2021, saying: “I am in recovery, things are going well,” the truth was that he was not in a good position.
The endless string of muscular injuries that kept him out, coupled with the acrimonious defection from the club that gave him everything for the past 16 years, has taken its toll on him.
He spent his early days in Paris at the luxurious Le Royal Monceau hotel, where Lionel Messi also stayed a month after signing with Paris Saint-Germain. It’s where PSG’s new stars stay before they find a home, but it’s uncomfortable with the constant crowds of fans and tourists waiting for them at the door.
Ramos was eventually “rescued” from there by his teammate and close friend, Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas, who welcomed him into his home while Ramos’ wife, Pilar Rubio, and their four children returned to Madrid.
Searching for a home was not easy; The couple were used to the closed and secure environment of their home in Madrid, and their biggest concern was the safety of their family. They did not find anything similar in the French capital, and in the end they decided to buy a house in a town to the west of the city.
Ramos then moved the hyperbaric chamber he had been using for years to improve his physical recovery to his new home. He also installed a full gymnasium, where he spent many hours completing club work and getting back in shape after every setback.
Ramos used his time to indulge in his latest hobby as a painter, which he began as part of a plan to balance the adrenaline he was not allowed to sleep after training and move his oil and other paintings to his home in Paris. He explains, “I paint to detach from reality, to escape. I seek to rediscover myself through moments of solitude.”
He also takes daily English lessons and less often French lessons. Almost everyone in Paris Saint-Germain speaks Spanish, so the need to learn the local language does not seem urgent.
He now plays alongside Messi, but while they certainly enjoy a very respectful and respectful working relationship, it would be an exaggeration to say they are friends. However, their children mingle with each other more because their boxes at the club’s Parc des Princes are located next to each other.
But if his first season was a failure, things are sure to be better this season, during which he made 34 appearances in all competitions.
Reunion with Ronaldo?
Sergio Ramos met his wife, Pilar Rubio, on a TV show
Football is far from being Ramos’ only passion; With his wife, Pilar, a well-known journalist and TV presenter, he shares a passion for rock music and brings together art and the good life.
Ramos is looking to pursue painting as a profession through his own artwork, and although he currently only displays his creations on rare occasions, according to a Spanish television station he uses a secret Instagram account to display his work.
He also made no secret of the fact that his goal was to build one of the most important collections of painting in Spain.
Ramos’ contract with Paris Saint-Germain will expire on June 30, with many believing his next move will put him with Al-Nasr club in Saudi Arabia alongside Ronaldo.
But he still wants to keep playing at the highest level for as long as possible, and even when the time comes to step down from the elite, a move to Saudi Arabia will not be a priority.
Unfortunately for him, the Paris Saint-Germain board are very reluctant to extend his contract and they have another deal ready to sign a new central defender.
Lackluster performances such as PSG’s recent 2-1 French Cup defeat against Marseille did not help Ramos’ case.
The French press was quick to criticize not only Ramos, but also Neymar and Messi for their performance, but it was his mistake that led to the penalty kick that resulted in Marseille’s first goal. The French sports newspaper L’Equipe evaluated his performance with four out of ten.
And according to RMC Sport, the negotiations are currently in a state of delay, with the club showing a clear reluctance to renew his deal, preferring instead to choose Marquinhos, Ramos’ direct competitor, as an automatic starter.
Moreover, there is widespread talk about the possible arrival of Inter heart Milan Skriniar, whose contract expires at the end of the season. And according to Italian media, he has already told Inter that he is leaving to join Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer.
All of this does not bode well for Ramos. Many said that if Saudi Arabia was not the right choice for him, then perhaps his most likely destination would be Major League Soccer.
The rumor mill also speaks of a potential return to La Liga, with some suggesting that the next most logical outlet for him should be his beloved Sevilla, the club he launched from, even just for a season, in order for him to move to the US.
However, there is one flaw in what appears to be a perfect plan, and that is the €15m that Ramos earns annually at PSG, and no one, except Saudi Arabia, will be able to pay that much money.