‘If there is someone with enough experience to handle this personal situation it is him’: Luis Enrique insists Sergio Ramos will not be affected by uncertainty over his Real Madrid future with PSG circling
Spain manager Luis Enrique has insisted that Sergio Ramos has not been and never will be affected by talk over his future with his days at Real Madrid uncertain.
The Madrid captain is widely believed to be keen to end his career at the Bernabeu, but his future is mired in uncertainty with his current terms set to run down at the end of the season.
And according to AS, Paris Saint-Germain are ready to tempt Ramos away from the Spanish capital, by offering him a three-year contract worth an eye-watering £18million per season after tax.
Sergio Ramos’ Real Madrid contract runs out next June, and PSG are circling for his signature
But Enrique has backed Ramos to deal with the intense talk over his future with Spain gearing up for a crunch Nations League clash with Germany on Tuesday – a must-win match if they are to leapfrog their opponents and qualify for the tournament’s finals.
‘Everything that is generated around Ramos is neither new, nor old, nor is it anything,’ the Spain boss said in his pre-match press conference.
‘It is what it is and what it means to have a player of this level. It is normal that there is pressure around and you have to live with that.
‘If there is someone with enough experience to handle this personal situation it is Sergio Ramos.
Luis Enrique has backed Ramos to deal with the uncertainty surrounding his club future
‘He is well prepared, and I see him the same as the first day we arrived at the national team, his enthusiasm, his leadership. His face does not change at all and this is part of the things that a footballer should know how to carry.’
As of January 1, 34-year-old Ramos will be able to open talks with foreign clubs and discuss brokering a switch next summer. Zinedine Zidane, however, has stressed his desire to keep him at Madrid.
Real are not willing to offer Ramos more than a one-year extension, in line with their usual policy of extending the deals of players over the age of 30 by just a single year.
But on this occasion, Real are said to be willing to stretch to the option of a further year on top, with the clause subject to a series of variables.
Ramos has won four Champions Leagues, five LaLiga titles and two Copa del Rey’s with Madrid
PSG are thought to be likely to hold out until January 1 before tabling their lavish proposal – and figures at Real are even believed to view Ramos as currently more likely to leave.
AS also reported that Ramos is yet to sit down face to face with president Florentino Perez, but has stressed to Real representatives that his wish is to stay in Madrid and retire there.
The Spain stalwart has spent 16 seasons in total with the club, and believes that his years of service should persuade Real to offer him a guaranteed two-year contract until 2023.
