Ramos has surgery, Ramos leaves
Zidane says Sergio Ramos "was at his limit". Florentino Perez is said to have commented that Ramos is more in charge than him at Real Madrid. A stormy relationship since the Sevillian began to add to the number of players in white. Renewals turned into a spectacle where both parties aired the conversations without any shame. They embarrassed the club, but sold the image that they needed each other. The titles cleaned up the remains of the stab wounds and so on until the next negotiation.
#NoCaptains
First it was Manchester United. Then it was China. Now it's the coronavirus. Ramos and Real Madrid have always looked for an excuse not to stay together. Florentino Perez has always held back his star player because he didn't want to go down in history as the president who let Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos leave in just a few years. But it is his way of running the club of his life. Hierro, Raúl or Casillas have left through the back door because Pérez has put Real Madrid before the economic interests of some players. Or because he no longer wanted to keep such high salaries over the age of 30. Or because he has seen how the leadership has left the dressing room and spread to the offices.
#NoFuture
Real Madrid says that Sergio Ramos has decided to have his meniscus operated on in agreement with the club's doctors. Just now. When the league has slipped away, the Cup is lost and the Champions League play-off against Atalanta is attainable, although the future in that competition is impossible. It seems a good time for the rest of the players to pull the cart and solve these games until the Sevillian reappears. In the Champions League quarter-finals and before the Clásico.
#NoAgreement
Everything is in doubt because from 1 January 2021 Ramos is free to negotiate with another team. The player has leaked that he doesn't like the renewal offer because it is a low one, taking advantage of the health crisis. The club has also moved to let the fans know that the centre-back's time at the club has come to an end. The same theatre as in other years.
#NoCaptain
With these circumstances comes Ramos' operation and two months out of action. Real Madrid will have to assess how far they can go without their captain. There is life after the club's last legend. Casillas has gone, Cristiano has gone and now Ramos could be on his way out. The dressing room will be left in the hands of veterans without media appeal such as Marcelo and Benzema. Pending the performance of youngsters like Vinicius or Rodrygo. The wage bill will be grateful for the savings of almost 30 million euros gross that Ramos earns. And these transitional years until the new Bernabéu is finished and the pandemic gives some economic respite can be solved by the signing of Alaba. A dressing-up job to survive. Pérez may not know about football, but he knows how to balance the books of a company.
#NoCoach
Anything can happen in the next four months. But it doesn't look like Florentino Pérez is going to bow down to Ramos once again. This is his moment. The contract runs out, the pandemic tightens the belt and the partner cannot turn to the box with the handkerchiefs. A new occasion to repeat the bad manners with a captain. To open the back door and let him leave without paying a euro. To relieve the sporting side of the club to sign other coaches if Zidane abandons the cause. One of those that the Sevillian did not like and did not hesitate to criticise. Mourinho was not one of them. Neither was Benítez. Much less Lopetegui. And he was clear when there was talk of signing Conte. It seems that the rumour that he's more in charge than the president is true.
#NoMoney
Ramos could end up in Paris if the club-state's economy allows it. The house of cards of all these moves will depend on the pandemic, the possible departure of Messi, the Euro and even the World Cup in Qatar where PSG and City have a lot at stake. If things get ugly, Ramos will sign whatever Pérez puts on the table and they will have their photo taken. The centre-back will boast that phrase: "I would play for free at Real Madrid" and the club will say that Ramos was born to retire in white.
#NoExcuse
If he leaves, nobody will raise their voice. Not a bad word. Not a good deed. Real Madrid will not tarnish the image of their captain and the "4" will keep his manners because he will want to return to the warmth of the Bernabéu. As they all do. And as the club is obliged to do in order to continue to add to its legend.
This is how the history of Real Madrid is written. It is written by a club president whose hand no longer trembles if he has to let go of stars who are bigger than the crest. It happened to him once. The rebellious sons made him jump ship 20 years ago. It won't happen again. No envy, no grudges.
