Sergio Ramos stops the Spanish team ‘with regret’

«The time has come, the time to say goodbye to the national team.It is with these words that Sergio Ramos announces his decision to turn the page on La Roja. A story that began on March 26, 2005 at the age of 18, against China (3-0) and which saw him wear the Spanish jersey 180 times (23 goals), a record. Her decision ? Yes and no… The PSG defender, free in June, especially took note of that of Luis de la Fuente. “This morning I received a call from the coach, who told me that he does not count and that he will not count on me, no matter how good I can show or how I pursue my sporting career.“, plague the ex-captain of Real Madrid. “With great regret, it is the end of a journey that I had hoped would be longer and that would end with a better taste in the mouth, on par with all the successes that we have achieved with our Roja“, he adds, he who was not called up for Euro 2020 (in 2021) nor for the 2022 World Cup, despite a pre-call. His last selection dates from March 2021.

World champion in 2010 and Europe, in 2008 and 2012, Ramos was let go by his body and chained physical glitches. He also spent almost all of his first Parisian season in the infirmary, before regaining form and playing time in 2022-23. Already 32 matches this season (2 goals), against only 13 in 2021-22 (2 goals). In vain… “I humbly believe that this trajectory deserved to end due to a personal decision or because my performance was not up to what our national team deserves, but not due to age or other reasons. that, without having heard them, I feltjudges the 36-year-old Andalusian. Because being young or old isn’t a virtue or a flaw, it’s just a temporary characteristic that isn’t necessarily tied to performance or ability. I watch with admiration and envy (Luka) Modric, (Leo) Messi, Pepe… The essence, tradition, values, meritocracy and justice in football. Unfortunately, it won’t be like that for me, because football isn’t always fair and football is never just football.»

Indelible memories

Trained in Seville, Ramos has never hidden his attachment to the national team, his love for La Roja. It is all his bitterness that transpires in this long message on social networks. It remains to be seen what the future holds for him at the club. In 2022, he admitted to hoping “play another four or five years at the highest level before having another experience“. To see if it will be in Paris… or elsewhere. The next few months will no doubt be decisive in this regard.

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Still, Sergio Ramos, monument of world football and of course Spanish, shares his “sadnessto stop with La Roja, but withheads up» and a big «grateful for all these years” and the “support» des supporters. «I take with me indelible memories, all the titles we fought for and celebrated together, and the immense pride of being the Spanish player with the most caps. This coat of arms, this jersey and these fans, all of you, have made me happy. I will continue to encourage my country from home with the emotion of the privileged person who was able to proudly represent it 180 times. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of you who have always believed in me!“Concludes Ramos, who is currently preparing the Classic against OM on Sunday (9 p.m., 25th day of Ligue 1), in Marseille, with Paris Saint-Germain. Spain will play against Norway and Scotland in March, in qualifying for the Euro.