After seeing Cristiano Ronaldo leave last summer, Real Madrid fans could have done without this news. However, it has been confirmed that Sergio Ramos has asked to leave the club.
The Blancos captain has long been tipped with an exit. Despite commanding the respect of the dressing room and supporters, the Spanish center-back has seen his relationship with Florentino Perez take a turn for the worse, which has led to this.
The skipper had a bust-up with the president during the team's turbulent 2018/19 season which saw them hire three different managers. Ramos has thus made the decision to call an end to his illustrious 14-year spell in the Spanish capital.
"They [Ramos and his agent] came to see me in my office and told me they had a very good offer from China," Perez told radio station Onda Cero (as per the Sun).
"But the league rules over there wouldn't permit them to pay the transfer fee.
"What was I going to tell him? We said this couldn't happen but we'd speak to the club to satisfy him but that Real Madrid could not afford its captain leave for free as that would be a terrible precedent for other players."
However, the 13-time Champions League winner is not ready to let their captain go without a fight. The Spanish giant will do everything in their power to keep the legendary defender at the Bernabeu, with Zidane also wanting the skipper to remain at the club.
Having won four Champions League titles and four Spanish Primera Division crowns since arriving from Sevilla, it's hard not to see why. Despite Los Merengues defensive frailties, this season, the World Cup winner remains one of the best center-backs out there and his exit would set the club further back.
