MADRID — Long-serving Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos is to leave after a 16-year spell in which he won 22 trophies, the club said on Wednesday, according to Reuters.
Ramos, 35, ran down his contract and, according to Spanish newspaper Marca, was unable to agree an extension after Real offered him a one-year deal on a 10% pay cut which he rejected.
Ramos signed for Real from Sevilla in 2005 for 27 million euros, a record fee then for a Spanish defender.
Making 671 appearances and scoring 101 goals, Ramos was made captain in 2015 after the departure of goalkeeper Iker Casillas.
Symbolically, his exit is huge. Ramos has been there for the recent consistent European success under Zinedine Zidane and has marshaled their defense for the best part of two decades.
The reality, though, might be slightly further from the imagery. Ramos has struggled for fitness over the last year, making just 15 appearances for Real in La Liga.
He also missed out on the Spain squad for Euro 2020, suggesting he has dipped down a level as he has gotten older. At 35, he might not have been worth the two-year deal he wanted. — Agencies