Real Madrid’s and Spain international Sergio Ramos has set many tongues rolling over his own long-term future with the Champions League holders following their Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Juventus.
Gareth Bale netted a stunning volley in the Los Blancos’ 3-1 International Champions Cup defeat of the reigning Serie A champions, while Marco Asensio scored a brace that saw Julen Lopetegui’s side bounced back from an early Dani Carvajal own goal in the United States.
Although, Ramos was present at Landover’s FedEx Field but was not involved in match having only just returned from an extended post-World Cup break last week. In his absence, Lucas Vazquez briefly held the captain armband in the second half following the withdrawal of stand-in leader Karim Benzema.
Vazquez subsequently took to social media to post a picture of himself wearing the armband alongside the caption:
“We keep getting rhythm.”
As per report from AS, Ramos’ comment on Vazquez post on Instagram is translated as:
“You only have four years left and I leave the bracelet … (Nacho, Carva …).”
Ramos’ reply has led to many questioning whether the long-serving defender has inadvertently revealed when he might finally leave Real or alternatively call time on his illustrious career.
The Spain international has registered 564 appearances in all outings for the Los Blancos since he joined the 13-time UCL winners from Sevilla in 2005 and Ramos is currently the club’s eighth on their list of all-time appearance-makers.
He has won all there is to win with Real Madrid during the last 13 years, including four La Liga and Champions League titles, two Copa del Rey trophies and is currently under contract at the Santiago Bernabeu until June 2020.
By the summer of 2022, this four-year span he’s talking about in his comment, he will be 36 and surely potentially contemplating retirement, if indeed he has not already hung up his boots or moved on to pastures new.