Sergio Ramos spoke to the media in an online press conference following the tribute and farewell ceremony held at Real Madrid City, where he tried to clarify some stuff that were not clear to the public. There were many questions and also many sneaky questions to which Sergio responded in the best way keeping a solid position.
The captain continued: “We’ve just come out of a really emotional, special, intimate event. I expressed my thanks to all of them and also want to thank you media representatives for having accompanied me during this marvelous chapter. I’ve had 16 years at Real Madrid, with criticism and praise along the way, but these years have allowed me to learn things”.
“I’d like to clarify everything that has been said. I’m the sort of person who likes others to define me and if I had to describe myself with a single word, it’d be pureness. In every minute that I’ve been out on the pitch and have worn this crest I’ve been true to myself, I’ve given my heart and soul for this club and that’s how I’d like to be remembered. I’ve got my strengths and weaknesses but, above all, I’m an honest man and person”.
Farewell and tribute ceremony: “I said it during the ceremony, I’d have liked to have said goodbye at our stadium but hats off to the club and the president. I couldn’t have wished for a better send-off. I’d have liked to have felt the fans’ support because there’s a bond that’s been there for many years and a link that nothing and nobody can take away. Ultimately, the circumstances are what they are and COVID-19 means that my departure is a bit different, but I feel privileged to have experienced this chapter, about the things I’ve won here and the affection I felt in what was such a special event”.
Would you sign for Real Madrid again? “Without any doubt, of course. It’s been the most amazing chapter in my life, I came to the club to win trophies. I’ve won loads of silverware and it’s true that after leaving Sevilla as I did, I would have given a press conference today, it’s one of the best decisions I’ve taken in my life and I would have signed for Madrid over and over again”.
Clarification: “Players have to do their talking out on the pitch and not off it. I offer my best on the pitch. The circumstances then meant that there was no opportunity to talk, that’s why I said that whenever there was any news, I’d be the one to come out and say it and here I am. As for the question of being a money-grabber, ultimately there are all sorts of opinions out there, but when people want to give those opinions, they should check their information or be aware of the story. The president has known for three of four months now that my issue wasn’t financial and that it was to do with the years on my contract because I wanted two but they would only give me one and it was to give my family and myself that peace of mind and continuity that I think I’ve earned. Life goes on, this is the end of a chapter and another one begins and things happen when they do”.
In search of happiness: “On occasions I’ve said in my close circle that I believe Real Madrid and Sergio Ramos to be the perfect married couple. These are life circumstances and things pan out as they have to. There are things we can’t change and you’ve just got to accept the present. I’ve got to look for another club, happiness and perform to my best, which is what excites me most, and try to add more silverware to my trophy haul”.
Were you not a priority for the club? “That’s not a question I can answer. The club has its priorities, but no player is more important than the club itself”.
Negotiations with other clubs: “We haven’t thought about that at any stage. From January, which is when I was a free agent, there was the odd call from interested clubs, but never did I intend on leaving and I’ve always been honest about that. We’ll now look at other good options for me. Sevilla are my other club, I had a marvellous spell there, but at this moment in time, I’m not considering that option, neither are they. As for Barcelona, it’s a categorical “no” and one as big as the new Bernabéu in size. You can rest assured that you won’t see Sergio Ramos in a Barcelona shirt”.
What’s on your mind? “I’ve thought about everyone and I don’t want to talk about my family because I get emotional. I joined the club when I was a kid with the support of my parents and my brother and sister. I can now say that this has been the greatest chapter of my life and I’ve made a great family, my wife Pilar and my four children, and won 22 trophies and I’m very proud to say that I came here with my family and I leave here with them. No matter where we go, we’ll always be united. They: my wife, my children, my brother and sister and my parents are my rocks”.
Feelings over past six months: “They’ve been difficult, it’s not been an easy time. I get full happiness from running out on to the pitch and when you face a period with injuries with three months of setbacks, although I can now luckily say that I’ve recovered and raring to compete, it creates doubts in your mind. I’d liked to have spent many more years here and to have had that peace of mind in terms of my contact, but if you look back on these 16 years, I’d have signed up for them. It’s been six tough months and 15 and a bit years in which I’ve enjoyed happiness and victories. Madrid is my home, my family and my school because I’ve grown as a person and a professional here. Today I say see you soon, but Ramos will be back, nobody should have the slightest doubt about that”.
Feeling of a lack of communication? “I’ve said everything that I had to say and put my proposals forward. I couldn’t do anything more, but I don’t want to focus on any conversation or the end of my time. I want to focus on what we’ve experienced, the things that I’ve enjoyed, that Florentino was the president who brought me to Madrid and I’ve lived out a dream that’s seen me win everything and everything that we’ve got in our trophy cabinet. It’s that affection that I want to take away with me”.
Contrasting proposals: “The only difference between the club and us was the one-year difference. The club offered me a year and I wanted two and when we decided to accept the offer in these last few weeks it was for a year with a reduced salary that they knew about several months before. It was a proposal that was accepted but it had a cut-off point”.
“A lot of things went on. I want to clarify that I never wanted to leave and always wanted to stay here. That’s been my approach. I look back on the LaLiga title we won during lockdown. After that, the club gave me the option to extend my contract, but because of COVID and the pandemic, it was put to one side. The club then offered me a one-year extension with a reduced salary. The money was never an issue. My issue wasn’t financial, it was to do with the years and having that peace of mind and continuity for my family. I wanted two years and the club offered me one. When we go to this point, in our most recent conversations, I accepted the offer of a year with a reduced salary and was told that the offer was no longer on the table, that there was a cut-off point and that I didn’t get that. I leave here feeling proud of what I’ve achieved and the 16-year relationship I’ve had. We’ve won a lot and I come away with those memories and that taste in my mouth”.
Do you regret anything within the renewal negotiations? “When you buy my brand, you buy it with its strengths and weaknesses. I always like to be myself and the relationship with the president has been extraordinary, like a father and son in sporting terms. I’ll always be grateful to him and that’s how I’ll remember him. You also get some disagreements within families, but I leave here with that affection and the last hug that he gave me during the ceremony. He allowed me to experience this marvellous chapter and that’s how I want it to be remembered. I don’t want any confrontation, but I like to tell the truth and I’ll always go with the pureness of Sergio Ramos”.
Do you regret not having accepted the offer earlier on? “The conditions varied on account of the pandemic and I had to make a decision, but at no point was I told that there was a cut-off point with the offer. When I accepted it, I was told that the date had passed. I respect it, but I was surprised that the proposal was no longer on the table”.
Reasons why the offer no longer stood: “I don’t know. It’s not a question I know the answer to because I’m unaware of the reasons behind the cut-off date and I wasn’t aware of them before. I understand that there is a friendly relationship within the negotiations. They are private and personal meetings and I don’t want to reveal the details. I was told a week ago by my agent and it surprised me. At no point was I given an ultimatum and I understood that our negotiations were still ongoing. I thought that I could accept the offer, but it was too late. I’m not resentful at all. What I take away with me is this family and that it’s a see you soon and not a goodbye. You’ll forever be in my heart”.
The way the offer was handled: “I don’t know what the president is thinking. That’s one that he’d have to answer. It’s not something that surprises me, but it’s the way it is. I was given the answers to the questions that you’re asking and I want to keep them private. I’m really proud of the tribute event, which was very emotional. I really enjoyed it”.
Do you leave with the feeling that you weren’t appreciated, just like Zidane? “I can’t give an opinion on anyone else’s behalf. If you were to ask me about the situation, I’d point to the 16 years and the pride at what I’ve achieved. I always wanted to stay on at Real Madrid and I’ve said that they planned for life without me because I understand that nobody is above Real Madrid’s planning. The negotiations with me were separate to the planning process”.
Future: “I don’t know which club I’m going to join, but now’s not the time to be talking about that. The most important thing isn’t the where, it’s who you’re with. My family has always been with me. Our aim is to always be together and there’s no change to that. Being united is one of my major strengths and my happiness is down to them. I’ve been here for many years and there’s a disappointment within myself, but I’ve had some marvellous years and I’m sure that this is a see you soon”.
Ancelotti, Zidane and Luis Enrique: “I have a great friendship with Ancelotti and we’ve always had a great friendship beyond our professional relationship. I called him when he came back and that was all. I have a great fondness for him from the spell we had together. Zidane has earned the status of not just being the best coach of all time, but one of the best I’ve worked with in my career. I hold him in high regard, he’s one of the greats and the affection I feel for him is as if he was part of my family. As for the national team and Luis Enrique, I understand the decisions he makes but I don’t want to give my opinion. I’ll try to perform to my best to return to the national team, which is something that excites me. I’ll fight to regain my place”.
Butragueño: “You’ve become one of our great legends”. Real Madrid’s director of institutional relations, Emilio Butragueño, joined Sergio Ramos for the online press conference and had the following to say: “Today’s a very special day for all madridistas. You’ve been at this club for 16 years and have become one of our great legends. We thank you for everything that you’ve given this shirt and this crest and for the role model you’ve been during this successful period. You should be very proud of everything you’ve achieved at Real Madrid, just as we’re very proud of having had a captain like you. Dear Sergio, thank you for everything and we wish you all the best for the future”
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