We look into the fascinating story of Sergio Ramos, one that is filled with success, leadership and bizarre tendencies to lose his head.
The scene is set. The first El Clasico of the season, Real Madrid have effectively shut down Barcelona. Luis Enrique throws on Iniesta in the second half and suddenly Barcelona become fluid again, chances are created and they finally score a goal. The league is suddenly slightly open, Madrid’s lead cut down to 3 points. An unnecessary foul by Arda Turan means Modric stands over the ball. He stands offside as he always does, forcing the opposition to choose – Mark him and force the defensive line deeper or let him be and gamble that he will be caught offside. He you wonder? Who else but Sergio Ramos. Pique, his marker, is being hassled by Lucas Vazquez who uses his tireless engine to block, jostle and be a bloody nuisance for Pique. Modric swings it in and Ramos does what he does best, triggering another bout of PTSD in Atleti supporters by popping up with another ridiculous late goal. If that goal wasn’t ridiculous enough, in the next game against Deportivo Real Madrid are drawing 2-2 and the ball goes out for a corner. The crowd starts chanting “Sergio Ramos give us a goal” and obviously he had to oblige with another ridiculously late goal didn’t he?
If the first El Clasico showed one side of Ramos, the second one showed the other side. The “Let’s make stupid reckless tackles and get sent off” side. He is just 31 years of age, 3 or more years of his prime career still to go and he already is the most booked player in Real Madrid history and closing in on the all time Spanish record. It is frankly astounding how an elite defender like Ramos can often end up diving into needless tackles and getting booked or even worse, sent off. And make no mistake, Ramos is an elite defender.
It feels like fate. One of the last signing of the first Galactico era would provide the single most defining moment of the second Galactico era. The only Spanish signing of the first Galactico era becoming a leader and lynchpin of an increasingly Spanish Real Madrid squad. While great things were expected of him when he became the most expensive Spanish teenager, no one thought he would ever become quite so iconic.