Real Madrid president Florentino Perez made it clear to captain Sergio Ramos that the club won’t be improving the offer they’ve already made him to stay. As such, Ramos, who currently earns $20 million per season in Madrid, is almost certainly not going to his contract renewed.
Ramos has played in the fourth-highest number of games in Real Madrid’s illustrious history. With 670 encounters to his name, Ramos is only behind Raul (741), Casillas (725), and Sanchis (710). Breaking records isn’t the only thing the defender is after. Madrid has made him an offer to extend for two years, but on inferior terms to those he’s currently on. Ramos believes he deserves more and is likely to get his money elsewhere, as a new club would pay him a signing fee, apart from matching his wage demands.
ABC claims the deadline Real Madrid set for Ramos to accept a new contract, with a 10% wage cut, expired at the end of March.
Talking to El Chiringuito in Spain, Perez commented on the defender’s situation. “Last year, Ramos agreed to drop 10%, this year he is in a different situation. I love Ramos, but we are in a very bad financial situation at Real Madrid. Nobody puts money into this club. Will he leave? I didn’t say that. Things can happen. We will think about it at the end of the season.”
Where next for Ramos?
In his 16 years at Real Madrid, Ramos won a total of 22 titles, including four Champions League trophies. He scored 106 goals in his career, which is a world record for a defender. Ramos was signed in 2005 from Sevilla for $32 million. Capped 180 times for Spain, he won the World Cup and the European Championship (twice) with his national team, also scoring 23 times.
His contract situation at Real Madrid has caught the attention of all the big clubs in England, Italy, and France. Paris Saint Germain from the French Ligue 1 and English giants Manchester United seem to have an edge over everyone else. Bookies have PSG and Man United both at +400 for sealing a deal with Ramos. Ronaldo’s Juventus is at +800, while Bayern Munich is at +1000. City follows at +1100, then comes Chelsea at +1600. The MLS is priced at +2000 — the same as a move to Real Madrid’s arch-rivals, FC Barcelona.
Real Madrid to replace Ramos with Alaba
President Perez and manager Zidane both want Ramos to stay, but they’re not desperate for that to happen. Real Madrid reportedly agreed to a five-year contract with David Alaba, whose contract at Bayern Munich expires this summer. Nacho and Éder Militao have been in excellent form lately for Madrid, so the general opinion is that Ramos won’t provoke a defensive crisis once he leaves.
Ramos has suffered four injuries since the start of the campaign, missing 24 of the 44 games Real was involved in this season. He’s currently out with a calf injury he sustained while on duty with the national team at the end of March. Ramos also tested positive for Covid this month and his recovery process had to be put on hold. Real’s medical staff hope to have him back for the return leg of the Champions League semifinal with Chelsea, on May 5.
With Ramos doubtful, Real and Chelsea are on even odds for qualification to the Champions League final. Both are at +225 to advance. The other semifinal is contested by PSG and Manchester City.
According to the bookies, Real has the third-highest chance of winning the Spanish La Liga this season. With just six games to go, Atletico is leading the pack on 73 points, followed by Real (70) and Barcelona (68, but with a game in hand). Barca is at +125, Atletico at +130, and Real at +250.