Ramos: Kroos, Casillas back Real Madrid captain amid contract impasse
Sergio Ramos, whose contract at Real Madrid expires on June 30, has received the backing of both Iker Casillas and Toni Kroos in recent days.
Less than twenty days remain until Sergio Ramos’ contract with Real Madrid expires and the future of the veteran captain still appears far from resolved.
Amid the ongoing impasse between club and player, Ramos recently received the support of two teammates -- one former and one current -- on the same day, with Iker Casillas and Toni Kroos both backing the 35-year-old central defender to continue at the Bernabéu.
Kroos: Ramos is the best captain I’ve had
“I don't know how things stand with the club, but it looks like he has 20 days left on his contract,” said Kroos last Friday while speaking to reporters at Germany’s training camp ahead of the Mannschaft’s Euro 2020 opener against France on Tuesday.
“He's a top team-mate, I've really enjoyed the years I've played with him. I hope there will be many more, but I can't do anything about that. He's a great team-mate and the best captain I've had in my career.”
Casillas: Ramos is one of the best in the world
For his part, Casillas gave his opinion on the Ramos situation at an event for his Foundation (Fundación Iker Casillas) in the Spanish city of Ávila on Friday.
"Ramos is a very valuable player, who everyone knows and is one of the best in the world,” said the former Madrid keeper who handed the captain’s armband to his team mate when he left for Porto in 2015.
“I hope that for the sake of football they (the club and Ramos) can come to an understanding with each other and reach a point of union.”
Zidane offered Ramos support before exit
Kroos and Casillas are not the only club figures to have offered their backing to Ramos. With his own future mired in uncertainty, former Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane publicly expressed his support for the captain on several occasions before his resignation at the end of May.
"I hope he stays here,” said Zidane on one occasion; "We want him to stay here,” reiterated the French coach on another.
“Ramos is a special player. If he is like he is now, of course he can play until he is 40,” were Zizou’s words after the interview with Ibai Llanos in which the Seville-born defender expressed his desire to extend his playing career at the highest level for a few more years yet.
Nacho's voice also emerged from the dressing room at a difficult moment for the captain, after he returned from international duty with an injury back in April. "The best thing for the club is for Ramos to stay and the best for Ramos is for him to stay at Madrid.”
There is undoubtedly a desire among those inside and outside the dressing room for the celebrated captain to stay at the Bernabéu. But time is running out quickly.