SERGIO RAMOS ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT FROM SPAIN NATIONAL TEAM

On Thursday, Sergio Ramos made his decision to leave the Spanish national team.

“The moment has come to bid the National Team, our cherished and thrilling Red, farewell. The present coach called me this morning and told me that he doesn’t count and won’t count on me, no matter what level I can perform at or how I continue my athletic career, he wrote on social media.

The center-back made 180 games for La Furia Roja since making his team debut in 2005.

Ramos had not played since March 2021 when former coach Luis Enrique cut him from the national team. Ramos was also informed by the new Spain manager Luis de la Fuente of his decision to remove him from the squad, which ultimately prompted the player to decide to retire.

“This morning I got a call from my current coach telling me he doesn’t count and won’t count on me, no matter how much I can perform or how I continue my athletic career.

“Humbled, I believe that (my) career deserved to come to an end due to a personal choice or because my performance was below what our National Team deserves, but not due to age or other factors that, without having heard them, I have intuitively felt. Being young or older is not a quality or a flaw, so it is only a transient trait that is not always connected to performance or ability. In his speech announcing his retirement, Ramos continued, “I look with awe and envy at Modric, Messi, and Pepe… the essence, tradition, values, meritocracy, and fairness in football.