On Tuesday, Sergio Ramos captained Real Madrid to a crucial victory over Inter Milan on Matchday 3 of the UEFA Champions League. Shortly after the final whistle, Zinedine Zidane offered an update on the skipper's contract situation.
The Spanish center-back, considered by many as the greatest defender of his generation and the greatest of all time by some, is in the final year of his Santiago Bernabeu contract. Having joined the club in 2005, the 34-year-old will be a free agent come this summer and would be free to join any other club for free.
Despite his age, Ramos continues to show his worth both as a defender and as a captain. In the clash with the Nerazzurri, the 2010 World Cup winner scored the second of Los Blancos' three strikes, taking his overall goal tally in Los Merengues iconic jersey to a whopping 100. However, whether he will extend his stay in the Spanish capital or end his amazing tenure remains a mystery.
Zidane, speaking after Ramos' centurion, weighed in with his thoughts on the matter. In the Frenchman's mind, there is no doubt the iconic center-back will remain at Real Madrid and, as the manager put it, "continue to make history".
"As always, he is our captain, our leader," Zizou said, as per the Daily Mail.
"We want him here forever, it is what he is doing, showing that he always wants to. I have no doubt that he will stay and that it will continue to make history."
Ramos also spoke after the game but said nothing about his contract situation. Instead, he opened up about the milestone he reached in Tuesday's 3-2 victory, emphasizing the importance of the win over his personal achievement.
"It's not bad," the 34-year-old admitted.
"Individual records are secondary, but you like hitting them and as long as they keep on helping the side win, hopefully I can get a few more.
"It was a tough game, but we were able to get a good result in the end and secure three very important points.
"We knew it was a do-or-die game and when you are pegged back to a draw in a match you were winning, you need to push on. We'd let them off the hook a bit and in the Champions League you can't afford to do that."
Sergio was not joking when the labeled that match a "do-or-die game". Real Madrid entered the fixture dead last in their group with only a single point and would have been facing a group-stage exit had they suffered a second defeat this season. Fortunately for them, they overcame Conte's tricky side and are now in third, level on points with second-placed Shakhtar and a point behind leaders Borussia M'gladbach.
