Silence and surprise at the RFEF at Ramos’ attack on De La Fuente
The Spanish Football Federation did not expect Sergio Ramos would react so bitterly with the coach after he had the courtesy to call him.
Sergio Ramos’ statement on his retirement from international football and comments aimed at Spain coach Luis De la Fuente has surprised the Spanish Football Federation. First of all, because they didn’t expect the former captain to go public and reveal details about his conversation with the coach. And secondly, because the attack by the PSG centre-back was not in line with the elegant gesture the coach had when personally informing him of the decision not to count on him in his new project in charge of the senior side.
Officially, the RFEF does not want to publicly assess Ramos’ statement, but they do thank him for his contribution to the national team and his 180 international caps. They will not make any public statement at the moment. The federation did not expect the ex-captain to issue a statement on Thursday, much less, with such acrimony towards the new coach. Ramos’ way of going about it was a world away from the way which Spain’s other great captains or legends said goodbye to the national team: Raúl, Casillas, Busquets, Iniesta...
Different attitude with Luis Enrique
Ramos’ attack on Luis De la Fuente contrasts with the silence that the defender kept when Luis Enrique did not call him up for the last World Cup. Ramos wanted to have a chat with the former coach to express his willingness to be called up, even accepting a secondary role. The Asturian coach agreed to receive him and invited him to have a meeting with him in Madrid before making the announcement public. Ramos traveled from Paris for the meeting. Subsequently, Luis Enrique did not include him in his squad list. Ramos conveyed his discomfort with the former coach among his entourage, but did not publish a statement as he has done with Luis De la Fuente.