Sergio Ramos broke down in tears at an emotional press conference as he said farewell to Real Madrid after 16 years there.
The 35-year-old defender brought down the curtain on his glorious time with the club on what he described as his ‘most difficult day.’
After club president Florentino Perez paid homage to the departing captain, Ramos only managed a few words of his speech before emotion got the better of him.
It has been a tough few months for Ramos. He was unable to influence Real’s fortunes as they crashed out of the Champions League against Chelsea. And he also missed out on Luis Enrique’s Spain squad for Euro 2020.
A tearful Ramos bid farewell at the Bernabeu and started his speech, saying:
“It is one of the most difficult moments of my life. You are never prepared to say goodbye to Real Madrid, but the moment has come.
“I want to thank my family, who have always been with me, also the club, the president, for all the affection he showed me, my coaches, team-mates, club staff.
“And to thank the fans, who have carried me in every moment. I’d have liked to say goodbye in the Bernabeu. But I will always carry you in my heart.”
He said: “I’ll always keep Real Madrid in my heart.
“This is more than a goodbye, this is a ‘till soon’, as sooner or later I will return.
“A marvellous stage in my life is over, but a new exciting future awaits and I am looking forward to showing my level and winning some more trophies.”
Perez said: ‘Thank you for everything you have given to this club and for defending our shield leaving your soul in each game and always fighting to the end.’
The news of Ramos’s departure broke on Wednesday night with his final game for the club being the 2-0 defeat by Chelsea in the Champions League semi-finals last month.
His contract was due to expire at the end of June. Ramos had been offered a one-year deal by the club with a pay cut (10 per cent of his current wage in line with the reduction offered to other players because of the financial impact of Covid-19).
But Ramos had wanted a two-year deal and on the same money he currently earns before any reduction in salary.
Ramos won four European Cups, four World Club Cups, three European Super Cups, five leagues, two Copa del Reyes at Madrid and leaves them the second most decorated player in their history behind Paco Gento.
His header three minutes into injury time of the 2014 Champions League final that took the game against Atletico Madrid into extra-time will long be remembered as one of the most important goals in the club’s history. It allowed them to win 4-1 and claim their 10th European Cup.
Ramos’s place at Madrid has already been taken with David Alaba arriving on a free from Bayern Munich. He now has to decide what his next move will be.
