Sergio Ramos leaves Real Madrid
Madrid, Jun 16 (EFE).- Real Madrid said Wednesday that 35-year-old defender Sergio Ramos will be leaving the club after 16 seasons.
“Real Madrid C. F. announces that tomorrow, Thursday 17 June, at 12:30 p.m., an institutional act of tribute and farewell to our captain Sergio Ramos will be held, which will be attended by our president Florentino Perez,” the club said.
“Sergio Ramos will then appear before the media in a virtual press conference,” the Blancos said in a brief statement.
The club legend, who has won 22 titles in his tenure with Real Madrid, missed a significant part of the 2020-2021 campaign due to injury, appearing in only 15 of 38 LaLiga matches.
News of his departure comes 14 days before the expiration of his current contract and after long negotiations on a new deal ended without agreement.
Ramos was looking for a two-year extension, but Real Madrid offered only a year and wanted the long-time skipper to accept a pay cut.
With the recent signing of Austrian international David Alaba on a free transfer from Bayern Munich, the club felt no pressure to make concessions to keep Ramos onboard.
The Sevilla academy product spent only two seasons with the Andalusian side before being acquired by Real Madrid in 2005 for 27 million euros ($32.39 million at the current exchange rate).
With 101 goals in 671 appearances, Ramos is the highest-scoring defender in club history one of the top scorers among defenders in LaLiga, while only Raul Gonzalez, Iker Casillas and Manolo Sanchis have played more matches in a Real Madrid shirt.
His honors with the Blancos include five LaLiga crowns, four Champions League triumphs – three of them in consecutive years – and three Copa del Rey titles.
Spain national team coach Luis Enrique left Ramos off the squad for Euro 2020, making it La Roja’s first major tournament since 2004 not to include the Real Madrid defender.
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