Florentino Pérez and Sergio Ramos' strange relationship
Both Real Madrid club president and first team captain have maintained a tense relationship over the years and are now resigned to get along.
Looking back, one could argue that Sergio Ramos has been the most astute signing made by Florentino Pérez in his 17 years (2000-06, 2009-2020) in charge as Real Madrid club president. The defender moved to the Spanish capital with Sevilla receiving 27 million euro for his signature with the defender going on to earn 170 caps with the Spain national side and Ramos fifth in the all-time overall appearances in the famous white shirt (Ramos has made 636 official appearances with Raúl on 741). After signing a raft of 'Galácticos': Figo (2000), Zidane (2001), Ronaldo (2002), Beckham (2003) and Micheal Owen (2004), Pérez decided on acquiring local Spanish talent, with a 27 million euro outlay on the central defender in 2005.
Since the move to the Bernabéu outfit, Florentino Pérez and Ramos (represented by brother René) have enjoyed a relationship with echoes of love and hate with three particular episodes between both individuals which personify this attribution.
United Ramos interest in 2015
In the summer of 2015. René Ramos secured a significant bid from Manchester United which he used as a tool to drive through an improved renewal deal that the captain had been striving for over a series of months. The story generated global headlines with United (then managed by Van Gaal) undergoing a period of transition offering the player 55 million euro (net) for a five-year term. The interest from the English side came at a complicated time for Madrid with the club coming to terms with Iker Casillas' decision to leave the LaLiga side. Pérez was anxious not to have both club captains abandon ship and eventually agreed to improve the Camas born player's wage structure which saw the defender move to earn a reported 14 million euros per annum.
Ajax elimination
The second episode between both men occurred last season (2018-19) after Real Madrid's Champions League elimination at the hands of Ajax. The president descended to the dressing room after the game and both men were involved in a heated argument as Ramos accused the president of poor planning: "The club's planning has been an embarrassment" stated the player with Pérez replying: "Watch what you say, or I'll kick you out". The Seville born defender replied: "Perfect, then you can pay me off.
Chinese way
The most recent episode of tension between both sides occurred in the summer of 2019 when René Ramos requested that his brother be allowed to leave on a free transfer to the Chinese Super League. The Ramos family were angered when the president revealed on the "El Transistor" radio show that the captain was the highest earner at the club. The tension briefly passed and with Sergio Ramos' current deal running out in 2021, the player and club are poised to enter a new phase of contract talks.