Sergio Ramos: "It hurts not to be able to defend Spain"
Sergio Ramos reacted after being left out of Luis Enrique's Spain list for Euro 2021: "I have to be honest, it's best for me to rest and recover well".
The omission of Sergio Ramos, captain and leader of Spain's national team, was the big surprise in Luis Enrique's squad list for Euro 2021. The Real Madrid centre-back has represented his country in the last four World Cup finals and the last three editions of the Euros.
Shortly after Luis Enrique's press conference, Sergio Ramos published a post on Instagram in which he lamented an "atypical season plagued by injuries" and said that he will be following La Roja at the tournament with the same excitement and hopes as the rest of the country: "After a few horrible months and an atypical, different season to what I have experienced during the whole of my career, now [another disappointment] with the Euros. I've worked hard and fought, given my body and soul to be at 100% for Real Madrid and the national team, but sometimes things don't work out how you want them to. It hurts me not to be able to help my team and not be able to defend Spain but, maybe this time, it's better for me to rest, recover well, and return as we have always done next season. Not being able to represent your country hurts, but I have to be honest and sincere (...)".
Ramos with the national team
A regular at youth level, Ramos made his first appearance for Spain's senior side under Luis Aragonés in a friendly against China at the Helmántico in Salamanca on 26 March 2005. He is the player to have made the most appearances for Spain in history with 180 games, in which he has scored 23 goals, which places him ninth in the list of top goal scorers for his country.
Last season he was dogged by persistent injury problems, especially a run of muscular injuries from the start of the New Year. Spain coach Luis Enrique has left the door open to Ramos to return in the future if he can overcome his physical issues.