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Is Sergio Ramos about to follow Cristiano Ronaldo?
Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal wants to pay the former Madrid star a figure that even Paris Saint-Germain cannot come close to as renewal doubts grow.
Paris Saint-Germain, with only the Ligue 1 title at stake, must focus on building their squad for the next season, as another assault on the Champions League begins again. However, there are doubts surrounding two of their players, Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos.
Ramos and Messi at PSG crossroads
Negotiations for Messi are ongoing, but the Parisian team is pessimistic about reaching a deal, and there are uncertainties regarding Ramos as well. The club has yet to offer the Andalusian defender a contract extension, and the process has been postponed until the end of the season.
And then there is the new temptation drifting in from Saudi Arabia, and in particular Al-Hilal, who have emerged as a serious contender for Ramos, flirting with offering him a net salary of over $30 million per season for two years (well over $1m per month). This is significantly more than what he currently earns in Paris and could lead to a decision in favor of the move. The Arab country aims to attract big stars to increase its football’s media exposure, as it did with Cristiano Ronaldo, who moved to Al-Hilal rivals Al-Nassr in December. The idea of those two former Madrid teammates battling it out in the twilight of their career is an attractive one for many.
Ramos, who has not heard officially from PSG, is yet to make a decision regarding his future. The club recognized his contribution to the team and reflected on his contract extension after he was deemed the best player in the disappointing game against Bayern Munich in the round of 16 of the Champions League.
The former Spanish international -- he is unlikely to play again in the new squad despite being available -- currently receives a gross salary of around $800,000 per month, but Al-Hilal’s offer is four times that amount. PSG may consider renewing Ramos’ contract at a lower cost if Financial Fair Play regulations force them to, which will be binding from June, but may also look to offload. At the moment, Ramos’s future remains uncertain.