SOCCER
Le Parisien suggest Sergio Ramos may have to retire early
The French daily believes that the defender's constant injury problems could lead him hang up his boots. He's doubt for the Real Madrid match on 15 February.
Sergio Ramos' time in Paris is turning into something of an ordeal. The central defender touched down in the French capital in June billed as a superstar signing but it not exactly turned out as planned. In eight months, he has played five games - lasting the full 90 minutes in just two of them. Such is the uncertainty surrounding the Spaniard, that Le Parisien have suggested that that the player could retire due to the persistent pain he is enduring with his calf muscle. "Injuries, is it the end for Ramos?" titled a piece in today's edition.
Ramos' latest injury is similar to the one he suffered last year while he was still at Real Madrid; the difference being that this time, it's his right calf muscle which is affected, not the left. During the 2020/21 season, he played two games in December and one in January before suffering a relapse of the injury which practically kept him sidelined for the remainder of the season and meant he missed Euro 2020 with Spain.
Age, wear and tear
Le Parisien cite Jean-Marcel Ferret, former doctor with the France national team, who classified Ramos' injury as 'old calf syndrome'. He explained, "They are niggling injuries because you can never really predict how it will evolve. A lot of it has to do with the shape of the calf muscle. Without entering into too much medical detail, you need to take into account the age of the muscle and the knocks which Ramos has suffered during his career - 19 season at the highest level has weakened his calf muscles".
According to Le Parisien, Ramos is the first person to be directly suffering from his constant injury problems. At the club, they recognise his professionalism and dedication to work - he will spend hours and hours working out inside the gym. However, his regular trips back to Madrid - the most recent, only last week to open up a gym, are not related to his injuries but they don't help in his bid to get to full fitness.
Ferret adds that muscle fibres gradually lose elasticity and that makes them more fragile. By focusing on strengthening his left left during his rehabilitation, Ramos may have weakened his other leg. The doctor feels that it is almost impossible that the ex-Real Madrid captain will recover in time for to face his old club in the Champions League last 16 first leg on 15 February and he could also miss the return leg at the Santiago Bernabéu on 9 march.