Amazing news broke on Thursday that after 16 years at the club, Sergio Ramos is to leave Real Madrid.
A tearful Ramos announced that the club had withdrawn their offer of a 1 year contract. This after the club legend had appeared to play a game of brinkmanship in his attempt to get himself a two year contract.
Ultimately, this looks a bit of a ruthless decision. Ramos clearly didn't want to leave, and didn't expect this to happen. He called the club's bluff though, and someone, somewhere, wasn't playing the same game.
In his press conference, he was keen to point out that club withdrew their offer. As opposed to the player himself wanting to leave.
This forthcoming season the club are to be managed by former manager Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian has returned to the club who sacked him back in 2015.
Ancelotti is tasked with job of trying to return Real Madrid to the dominant force they have become accustomed too. To be successful in his quest, one of Ancelotti's jobs will be to get rid of some of the aging players, and replace them with younger replacements.
Could Ramos be the first victim? After all, he does fits into the category of aging player, and this may be the start of things to come at the club.
Ahead of the new season, bookmakers have already installed Real Madrid as 6/4 favourites to win La Liga this season. They clearly don't see any problem with Ancelotti clearing out any of the old brigade.
We have more information available if you’re looking for a decent bookmaker for football betting on La Liga.
A look back at the Real Madrid career of Sergio Ramos
Sergio Ramos is a club legend at Real Madrid. There will be plenty of fans who will be distraught to be seeing him leave.
And when you look at his list of honours, it's not hard to see why.
- 671 Appearances
- 101 Goals
- 5 La Liga Titles
- 2 Copa del Reys
- 4 UEFA Champions Leagues
- 3 UEFA Super Cups
- 4 FIFA Club World Cups
Ramos played major roles in some of the 4 Champions League victories.
In the first of his 4 wins back in 2014, he scored a stoppage time equaliser against city rivals Atletico. This took the match into extra time, with Real ending up 4-1 winners.
Two year's later in 2016 he scored Real's only goal in another 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid. Ramos then stepped up to score the fourth penalty as Real won another Champions League.
Probably his most infamous Champions League moment was in 2018. This was when Ramos was involved in the incident that resulted in Mo Salah having to leave the field injured in the 31st minute.
Only Ramos knows if it was an accident or not. But one thing that is for certain, is that the actions of Ramos that day certainly impacted on the outcome of the match.