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  • Ramos to miss Sevilla trip as he continues recovery from hamstring injury

    Ramos to miss Sevilla trip as he continues recovery from hamstring injury

    Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos has been left of the team’s squad for the La Liga clash with Sevilla on Saturday. 

    The defender has returned to training following the hamstring injury he sustained while on international duty with Spain in November. 

    Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane, however, told a media conference prior to the squad announcement on Friday that the 34-year-old would only make the trip if he was fully fit. 

    “We’re not going to take any chances with Sergio Ramos,” Zidane said. 

    “I don’t want to play a player who has a problem and then he makes it worse. We want all the players back”. 

    Ramos will miss the clash against his former side, having developed in Sevilla’s academy and become a first-team regular before being sold to Real Madrid in the summer of 2005.

    Without Ramos, Madrid have drawn 1-1 with Villareal and lost 2-1 to Deportivo Alaves in league action.

    READ ALSO: ‘Neuer is the best goalkeeper of all time’ – Rummenigge

    In the Champions League, Zidane’s side managed a 2-0 away win over Inter but suffered a defeat by the same scoreline at Shakhtar Donetsk in midweek, putting their progression to the knockout stages in the balance. 

    Serbia striker Luka Jovic is also not included by Zidane, despite having recently recorded a negative test for Covid-19. He had a positive test while away with his national team, requiring him to spend a period in isolation.

    Madrid sit fourth in La Liga on 17 points – seven behind leaders Real Sociedad and six behind second-placed Atletico Madrid, who they face in the derby next weekend at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano.

    The team’s struggles in the league and Champions League have put Zidane’s position under threat but after this week’s defeat to Shakhtar, the Frenchman insisted he won’t be stepping down.

    “I am not going to resign – not at all,” Zidane said.

    “We have always had delicate moments. It is true that it is a bad streak in terms of results, but we must continue. Today was a final, we prepared very well, but we know there is a game to go and we have to win and that’s it.”

  • ‘Ramos is writing his name into Real Madrid’s history books’ – Casemiro

    ‘Ramos is writing his name into Real Madrid’s history books’ – Casemiro

    Sergio Ramos is “writing his name in the history books” at Real Madrid, says Casemiro, with those working alongside an iconic defender delighted to have him on their team.

    A World Cup winner moved to Santiago Bernabeu from Sevilla back in 2005.

    Since then he has taken in 660 appearances for the Blancos, hitting 100 goals, and has played a leading role in five La Liga title wins and four Champions League triumphs.

    Many of his outings for Real have come as captain, with records tumbling around him as Ramos has also taken his collection of Spain caps to 178.

    It has been suggested that the clock is ticking on a legendary spell in the Spanish capital, with a contract running down towards free agency in 2021, but Casemiro is among those looking to make the most of every opportunity to learn from a modern-day great.

    The Brazilian midfielder told reporters of Ramos ahead of a European clash with Inter on Wednesday that the Blancos’ skipper will sit out through injury: “Sergio is a leader in the dressing room and on the field. It’s a pleasure to have shared all these years with him. What he’s doing now is writing his name in the club’s history books.

    “He’s a player who never gives up. He always wants to fight and he always wants to win. He pushes the team forward, and he’s a leader and a role model for us.”

    While Ramos is the undoubted on-field leader for Real, Casemiro is among the others filling vital roles.

    He said of the importance now placed on a holding midfield post: “I always say that a footballer, whatever his age, is going to learn something new every day, even if it’s small details.

    “The role of the defensive midfielder was quite common in the past, especially in Brazil.

    “We had a lot of players, like Mauro Silva, Gilberto Silva and Dunga, who felt comfortable playing that number five role, as we say in Brazil. That ceased to exist, but now it’s returning because formations themselves have changed.

    “Today we’ve returned to the old formation where the full-backs are coming up high and then backing away, and the defensive midfielder plays a vital role in this. He provides balance and must keep an eye on the other players and fill any gaps they leave.

    “The defensive midfielder is the centre of everything in the midfield and is essential for any team.”

    Casemiro will be looking to prove that point when Real take in a trip to San Siro, with Zinedine Zidane’s side having already claimed a dramatic 3-2 win over Inter in this season’s Champions League.

    “We knew it wasn’t going to be an easy game but mentally we were very strong and focused on victory. And then Rodrygo confirmed it with a goal,” Casemiro said of an eventful game at the Bernabeu on November 3.

    “The mental work and concentration that we maintained throughout the whole match were very important. We’re aware that there is still a long way to go, but that victory was very important.”

  • Spain boss Luis Enrique speaks on Ramos PSG transfer speculation

    Spain boss Luis Enrique speaks on Ramos PSG transfer speculation

    Sergio Ramos can handle talk over his future at Real Madrid and has not allowed his contract situation to affect him while playing for Spain, according to Luis Enrique. 

    Defender Ramos is in the final year of his deal with Madrid and negotiations between the two parties have reportedly stalled, leading to speculation he could be set to depart the Santiago Bernabeu. 

    Paris Saint-Germain have been linked with the 34-year-old, who pulled out of the scheduled national team news conference on Monday, Manchester City midfielder Rodri stepping in to replace his captain.

    READ ALSO: What Argentina boss told Messi after injury scare


    Ramos is preparing for Spain’s pivotal Nations League clash with Germany on Tuesday, a game they must win if they are to leapfrog their rivals and qualify for the finals of the tournament. 

    Head coach Luis Enrique has backed the centre-back to cope amid the growing pressure, something he has become accustomed to during his distinguished career for club and country. 

    “Everything that is generated around Ramos is neither new, nor old, nor is it anything,” the Spain boss told the media.  

    “It is what it is and what it means to have a player of this level. It is normal that there is pressure around and you have to live with that. 

    “If there is someone with enough experience to handle this personal situation it is Sergio Ramos.  

    “He is well prepared, and I see him the same as the first day we arrived at the national team, his enthusiasm, his leadership. His face does not change at all and this is part of the things that a footballer should know how to carry.”

    Spain were only able to draw 1-1 away in Switzerland last time out, not helped by the usually reliable Ramos missing two penalties. 

    Luis Enrique defended the player – who had scored his previous 25 attempts from the spot for club and country – in his post-match media conference, though it was again a topic of debate in Monday’s preview session for the game in Seville. 

    “I don’t know if Sergio Ramos is the best penalty taker in the world,” he replied when asked about Ramos’ spot-kick role.

    “What I did defending Sergio after the game is what any coach would do of course. You have to know how to accept both versions of the story and nothing happens.”

    Ramos has played the most number of games (16) during Luis Enrique’s time in charge, during which he is the leading scorer with nine goals.

    He is also top of the charts across the same period when it comes to shots attempted (37), passes attempted (1,328) and also duels won (64), showing his all-round value to the team.

  • Ramos has no plans to retire from Spain duty

    Ramos has no plans to retire from Spain duty

    Sergio Ramos has no plans to step away from penalty duties for Spain despite missing two spot-kicks against Switzerland, and insisted he is not considering international retirement.

    Ramos made his 177th international appearance, surpassing Italy great Gianluigi Buffon for the most by a European man, but marked the milestone with two penalty misses in a 1-1 Nations League draw on Saturday.

    The defender had scored a remarkable 25 straight penalties for Spain and Real Madrid before his two misses from 12 yards.

    Ramos, who skipped a news conference on Monday amid links to Paris Saint-Germain, said he would continue taking penalties.

    “If there was another penalty of course that I would take, of course,” he told Spain’s media channels. “If I didn’t approach it that way, I would stop being me.”

    Spain host Germany in Seville on Tuesday, needing a win to finish top of Group A4 and reach the Nations League Finals.

    Ramos, 34, said he was proud of his appearance record, and he dismissed any talk of retiring from internationals.

    “It is a pride to surpass a legend like Buffon in caps. In the end, when you start you don’t think you can get that high,” he said.

    “I have spent many hours running around here through the streets of Seville and there is a lot of effort behind it, perseverance and perseverance.

    “In the end it is that. As long as I feel like it, I will continue. My head is in charge, and for now, it allows me.”

    Ramos was firmly in the spotlight following his blunders from 12 yards, but the gaze intensified when he was linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain.

    The 34-year-old’s preference is believed to be a two-year extension to his contract at Madrid, but a mega-money offer from the French capital could turn his head.

    Spain coach Luis Enrique does not feel he needs to step in and offer any guidance to his captain.

    “Everything that is generated around Ramos is neither new, nor old, nor is it anything,” the Spain boss told the media.

    “It is what it is and what it means to have a player of this level. It is normal that there is pressure around and you have to live with that. 

    “If there is someone with enough experience to handle this personal situation it is Sergio Ramos.”

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  • Real Madrid yet to offer Ramos a new contract

    Real Madrid yet to offer Ramos a new contract

    Spain captain set to drop into free agency pool in 2021

    Real Madrid have yet to offer Sergio Ramos a new contract despite the fact his current deal expires next summer – according to Cuatro.

    READ ALSO: ‘Ronaldo has no respect for his team-mates’ – former Juventus defender Pasquale Bruno

    The 34-year-old wants to see out the remaining years of his career at Santiago Bernabeu, but he is still waiting to be handed a renewal by club president Florentino Perez.

    Ramos scored the 100th goal of his Madrid career during a 3-2 victory over Inter in the Champions League on Tuesday night.