It came as a shock to many when it was announced that Sergio Ramos would not be a part of the Spain squad at this summer’s European Championship, and there was further surprising news when it was revealed that Ramos would be leaving Real Madrid, where he has spent the vast majority of his professional career up until this point.
It’s hard to imagine Real Madrid without Ramos, but club president Florentino Perez was happy to wave goodbye to his club captain, and Ramos has wasted no time in sorting out a new move, finalising a deal with Paris Saint-Germain to take his unique brand of defending to the Parc des Princes.
But what can PSG expect from their new man? Ramos has built a career on being a bit of a trouble-maker on the pitch, and his career total of 26 red cards is pretty astounding, but alongside that is a player who has mastered the art of defending. Let’s take a look at a few of the traits which Ramos will bring to the French capital.
Wealth of experience
Not many footballers can boast the winners’ medals that Ramos has picked up in his time at Real Madrid. He has won a whole host of league, cup and Champions League titles while plying his trade in the Spanish capital, and that experience could prove vital in PSG making that next step towards dominance in European football.
The Champions League has continued to elude the French giants, and there’s no doubt that part of the reason behind bringing Ramos to the club is to help them make that next step in Europe’s premier club competition. Having captained Real Madrid to three successive Champions League titles, Ramos will be able to offer his expertise when it comes to earning PSG that maiden crown.
Football’s dark arts
It’s no secret that Ramos is a purveyor of the darker side of top-level football. Never one to shy away from a hard-hitting challenge, nor to resist employing time wasting tactics or simulation to help his team gain an advantage, Ramos may not always be the most popular figure, but no-one can deny that his penchant for riling up opponents can be a huge advantage.
There are some cases in which he has perhaps taken this too far, most notably in the 2018 Champions League final, where he dislocated the shoulder of Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, causing the Egyptian to be substituted from the final, and to miss the first games of that summer’s World Cup. But overall, this attribute will only add to PSG’s chances in the football betting odds in terms of getting their hands on major trophies, and will give them a bit of the edge they have lacked in recent years.
Defensive nous
The most important thing is that Ramos is an outstanding central defender. You can’t achieve the success he has without being exceptional at your job, and the Spaniard has forged his stellar career with strong defensive aptitude as its basis. He is a player for the big occasion, as comfortable producing a last-ditch tackle to deny a goal as he is rising to head home a late goal at the other end.
Indeed, his scoring stats are remarkable for a defender. In his time at Real Madrid, he notched 72 goals, a remarkable figure, and he is a great all-round footballer as well as a warrior of a defender. PSG have bagged someone who could well help them reach the next level, and it would be no surprise to see Ramos getting his hands on another major trophy before too long.