Ramos takes charge amid the crisis
Despite ongoing tensions, the Madrid captain met with Florentino on Thursday, as well as rallying the rest of the squad to step up for the rest of the season.
Florentino Pérez and Segio Ramos spoke again on Thursday afternoon following their heated exchange immediately after Real Madrid's heavy defeat to Ajax in the Champions League. Despite the ongoing tension between the president and club captain, Madrid's talismanic centre-back, who watched his side's European campaign unravel on Tuesday evening from the stands, has taken charge amid the current crisis and is in talks with Pérez over the next steps for the club.
Ramos and Florentino's speech
Ramos was riled by the way Florentino spoke to the players in the immediate aftermath of the Ajax defeat, refusing to given them any form of recogniton for their achievements over the past five years: winning four Champions League titles - an unprecedented three in a row - as well as a league title and the Copa del Rey, among other trophies. Moreover, after their recent conversations Ramos' future remains uncertain and will largely depend on the next coach to come in - Real Madrid will put off the decision on Solari's future until after the weekend and the Valladolid game. Zidane has already reportedly turned down an offer, while the possibility of bringing in Mourinho, currently out of work, now seems more remote since the early reports in mid-week.
Mourinho
Ramos' relationship with Mourinho deteriorated during his tenure from 2010 to 2013 and the Portuguese coach's arrival would almost certainly mean the centre-back would leave the club. In December 2018, Ramos made his feelings on Mourinho's time at the club clear: "Mou has been gone for five years and you're still talking about him. In that time we've won everything".
Ramos also called a meeting with the Madrid squad (without the technical team) during Thursday's training session to ask for commitment from his team-mates for the remaining fixtures this season and to go all out to try to finish the season in second place. "Whoever isn't fully committed and doesn't give everything they've got, might as well leave," he told the players, before berating Isco for not getting on the team bus to join his team-mates after finding out he wasn't selected. Isco subsequently apologised to the players, admitting he was angry with Solari.