Madrid not in position for Ramos bumper deal over budget
The relationship between Florentino Pérez and Sergio Ramos "is magnificent", but Madrid are not in a hurry. The priority for now is dealing with the loss of €250 million from the pandemic.
The president of Real Madrid, Florentino Pérez, is in contact with club captain Sergio Ramos on "an almost daily basis", according to a reliable source from the club who spoke to AS. The most important thing is that the president and the captain "have never lost their great bond or close contact, but it is logical that Sergio Ramos looks after his family" so the club does not completely rule out the idea of an offer coming his way, one that is too good to turn down for a player who is almost 35 years old and who possibly has the last lucrative contract opportunity of his career on the way. "It is not what Madrid would like, as they hope Ramos stays, but in any case what is certain is that whatever happens will result in a good outcome for both parties," said the same source.
"The relationship between Sergio Ramos and the president is very cordial and is not affected by the negotiations," insisted the sources contacted by this newspaper. Madrid have no doubts, they want Sergio Ramos to stay. But the club is also very clear that if offers are put on the table for the centre-back, they will not enter a bidding war for the player. "Sergio knows how far Real Madrid can go in a situation like the one caused by the pandemic. Of course, if, as has been said, there is an offer of €20 million per year for him, the club is never going to offer the same." Madrid want Ramos to stay, but not at the risk of unbalancing their accounts. The club still has to balance €250 million of its budget and that is the responsibility of its president.
Ramos will aim to get the best contract possible after 16 seasons at the club, he believes it is what he deserves. Both parties, Florentino on the one hand and Ramos on the other, are tough negotiators but also good friends. Florentino already found himself in a similar situation with Cristiano Ronaldo and will apply the same doctrine with Ramos as with the Portuguese. Ramos will have the opportunity to continue, "but if an offer comes in that he cannot refuse at 35, then it will be necessary to understand that he has the good of his family in mind." If he does leave the Spanish capital, the club says that it will be in the most respectful way possible.
Ramos to decide future
Real Madrid have opted for "a prudent economic policy because of the pandemic and it will not make exceptions, it cannot make them. It is not the right moment to spend big when a salary cut has been applied for the entire squad and another may come, due to the pandemic." It seems that Ramos has not yet decided between staying on at Madrid on conditions similar to those he has now (€12 million net per season) or acceping an offer he simply cannot refuse, and that meets the expectations of what could be the last contract of his career.
Madrid insist that "there is plenty of time" to talk about the renewal of their captain and that perhaps it will be done "when the ball stops rolling, by the end of the year". Now there is the matter of the Spain national team, the league and the Champions League will return soon and those same sources wanted to reveal that "the relationship between Florentino and Sergio Ramos is strong and was never cut off". They will both demonstrate that publicly, maybe this weekend, when Madrid take on Villarreal.