Could Sergio Ramos really be on the verge of ending his long association with Real Madrid?
The Spanish defender is under contract at the Santiago Bernabeu until 2021 but has hit the headlines with reports that he has now asked Los Blancos president Florentino Perez for a transfer away from the club (SkySports). Manchester United, Liverpool, and the Chinese Super League have all been mooted as potential destinations for the Madrid captain.
Ramos has proved himself as one of the best defenders - both at club and country level - in the history of the game, with an enviable trophy cabinet that few could better. Here’s the great Spaniard’s breakdown by numbers.
1 - World Cup, won with Spain in 2010 in South Africa, the first time the country had won the competition.
2 - UEFA European Football Championships with La Roja in 2008 and 2012 making Spain the only national team to win three consecutive major titles.
3 - Back-to-back Champions League titles with Real Madrid between 2016 and 2018. Ramos played every single minute in each of the finals.
4 - La Liga titles in his time in the capital, with two in successive in his second and third seasons at Madrid. In contrast, Barcelona have won nine during his time at Real.
5 - Time recipient of the La Liga’s Best Defender award.
6 - Foot tall.
8 - Inclusions in the UEFA Team of the Year, the third most appearances in history. The last time he didn’t feature was 2011.
Gracias equipo, cuerpo técnico, presidente, club y afición.
Together we have lifted the @ChampionsLeague to the sky of Madrid and our badge to the the sky of history. Thank you all!
14 - Years at Real Madrid (so far…), after moving from Sevilla in 2005.
15 - The number shirt he wears for Spain, in contrast to the number 4 he wears for Real Madrid. This is in tribute to the late Antonio Puerta, a player who came through the Sevilla youth system with Ramos and who tragically passed away in 2007.
18 - The age Ramos made his debut for the Spanish national team.
19 - The age Ramos moved to Real Madrid.
20 - Major honours across his Real Madrid career. As well as the aforementioned, he has helped Los Blancos to two Copa del Reys, and three Supercopa de Españas.
33 - Years old.
37 - Yellow cards collected by the defender in the Champions League, to go along with his three reds. Ramos is the recipient of the most bookings in the competition’s history.
84 - Goals for Los Blancos, the highest for a still active defender in a top European league.
93 - The minute he scored the equalizer for Real Madrid in the 2014 Champions League final against Atletico Madrid, taking the game to extra time at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon. Real would go on to win 4-1 and claim their 10th European Cup, and their first in 12 years. Ramos would be voted the Fans Man of the Match for his heroics.
100 - Caps at the age of 26 years, 11 months and 22 days, making him the youngest player in the national team set-up to reach the landmark.
606 - Appearances for Real Madrid across all competitions, the fifth-highest in the club's history.
82,000 - Views in two days for his summer 2018 banger ‘'Otra Estrella en tu Corazon' with singer Demarco Flamenco. The song translates to ‘Another Star In Your Heart’ and was released ahead of Spain’s World Cup campaign in Russia. Spain exited the competition in the Round of 16 to the hosts.
535,000 - (and counting) bitter Liverpool fans who have signed a change.org petition ‘UEFA & FIFA should punish Sergio Ramos for intentionally hurting Mohamed Salah’ after the Reds’ humiliation in the Champions League in 2018. The Spaniard was accused of elbowing the Egyptian. Real won 3-1.
27,000,000 - The Euros it cost Real Madrid to purchase the defender from Sevilla, making him the most expensive Spanish defender at the time.
32,000,000 - Followers on Instagram.
Might we have seen Sergio Ramos in a Real Madrid shirt for the last time?
