Sergio Ramos passes instruction to a teammate (Getty Images)
According to AS (h/t Daily Mail), Real Madrid are planning to offer a new one-year deal for their skipper Sergio Ramos.
The 34-year-old defender is entering the final 12 months of his contract at the Santiago Bernabeu, having joined them almost 15 years back from La Liga rivals Sevilla. A veteran of 640 matches for the Spanish giants, Ramos is not just a defender but rather a goal-scoring one too.
He has scored 69 goals and provided 21 assists during his 15 years at the club, explaining the reasons for his longevity.
Ramos has also enjoyed a trophy-laden career filled with 4 La Liga titles and 4 Champions League trophies among many others, making him a legend at Bernabeu. After all these years, Ramos still remains the automatic first-choice centre-back in the side and has made 34 appearances for them this season.
The Spaniard alongside Frenchman Raphael Varane has been a mainstay in Madrid’s defence in the last few years due to his consistency and rock-solid displays at the back.
This season, captain Ramos has featured 25 times for them in the league and managed 11 clean sheets, proving that age is just a number and talent comes above everything else.
Despite turning 34 last May, Ramos’ displays at the back for Madrid proves that he is still one of the best defenders in Spain. This is even more evident from the Madrid skipper’s selection in the national side. The veteran defender still remains one of the first few names in the national team and is currently Spain’s captain, having featured for them a whopping 170 times to date.
Having impressed for both club and country all these years on a consistent basis, Ramos is an inspiration for the upcoming youngsters not just within the Madrid side but elsewhere also. Apart from Ramos and Varane, Madrid currently have Nacho Fernandes and summer signing Eder Militao within their ranks.
Fernandes has always been a key contributor when called to the side but Ramos’ standout displays at the back have always put him in the shadows. The 22-year-old Militao, meanwhile, is yet to impress Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane, having made just nine league appearances so far.
Considering all this Madrid’s plan to extend their skipper’s stay for a little longer seems like a step in the right direction. A World Cup and two-time Euro Cup winner, Ramos is a proven performer in the world of football and his excellent displays for Madrid this season prove that is still at his best.
Despite the availability of Fernandes and Militao, Madrid boss Zidane has stuck with veteran defender Ramos, indicating that he clearly remains one of the top players in the side. The number of trophies he has won for Real Madrid are a testament to his talent. Moreover, extending the stay of a legend like Ramos will only boost Madrid’s confidence ahead of next season.
