Sergio Ramos, the great captain of Madrid and stronghold of the team in the last decade, Y Florentino Pérez, president of the entity for 17 years, are condemned to understand each other. To this day, a Real Madrid cannot be understood without both, despite the fact that the defender is already 34 years old. But there are several events that happened in the past that clearly separate them. Three stand out from all. The first was in 2015, when Sergio Ramos forced to renew upward with an offer from United just when the other captain, Casillas, had left Madrid in a traumatic way. The second, when both met in the locker room after the elimination in the Champions League against Ajax, two seasons ago. The third, when Ramos asked to go to China with the freedom letter. The president did not let him, and also left the defense in evidence when he said publicly that he was the highest paid of the white squad.
Ramos is that kind of captain who doesn't mince words. It was clear when he did not hesitate to comment on a possible return of Mourinho: “We have been without him for five years and we have gained a lot in these years …”, said when bells sounded of a possible return of the Portuguese coach. “Respect is earned, not imposed …”, He did not hesitate to point out when the one who rang was Conte and his heavy hand. Both statements questioned Florentino's approaches.
Beyond these details, in recent times the relationship between Florentino and Ramos (and between his brother and manager, René), has been one of love and hate. These are in detail the three most popular episodes.
Disencounter in 2015.
Summer 2015. René Ramos took advantage of an offer from Manchester United to force the renewal of the captain that was brewing. The news went around the world: United, in the middle of the investment process, with Van Gaal as coach (and to make forget the Ferguson era), gave Ramos 55 million euros net in five seasons. They paid at the price of gold to fill the void left by Vidic and Ferdinand. Ramos was then 29 years old and a large part of his career ahead of him. That ordeal did not sit well with Florentino, especially because it coincided with the traumatic departure of the entity from Boxes. He couldn't stop the squad in one fell swoop without his two captains. He had to agree and Ramos began to collect 14 million euros net.
In the locker room after Ajax.
It was after the elimination of the Champions League at the hands of Ajax. Florentino went down to the locker room to recriminate what happened to the squad and, once again, Ramos came out in defense of the players facing the president: “The planning has been a shame,” he told him. “I miss you,” Florentino said. “Perfect, you pay”, the defender settled … That season was especially difficult for Real Madrid, because it was the first after the departure ofe Cristiano for 100 million euros to Juve. After his departure, Madrid signed Vinicius (45), Courtois (35), Odriozola (35), Brahim (17) and above all, to replace the goal that went with the Portuguese, Mariano (22). Ramos didn't think it was enough.
The offer from China.
It was the last encounter between the two and after him their relationship, according to what they say from both parties, is better than ever. In the summer of 2019, with a contract until 2021 and a clause of 800 million euros, the great captain requested a meeting with José Ángel Sánchez and Florentino to try to leave with the freedom letter. It was a few months after the fight in the locker room for the elimination against Ajax. Then it was Florentino who gave his version: “They came to see me at my office. They told me that if I could leave but without paying because transfers in Chinese football are very complicated. I told him that he could not leave and that we would talk to the club. It is impossible for him to let his captain go for free, because it is a terrible precedent. “ And he revealed that he was the one who earned the most in Madrid. The atmosphere became so against the captain that he was forced to give a press conference: “I want to retire at Madrid, I would play for free here.”