Sergio Ramos announces Spain retirement and slams manager after ruthless call
Sergio Ramos has confirmed his retirement from international football after a call from his country's new manager Luis de la Fuente.
The defender, 36 is Spain's most-capped player, and was part of World Cup and European Championships winning squads. Ramos, who plays his club football for Paris Saint-Germain, made the announcement on his social media channels.
"The time has come, the time to say goodbye to the National Team, our beloved and exciting Red," Ramos wrote. "This morning I received the call from the current coach who told me that he doesn't count and that he won't count on me, regardless of the level I can show or how I continue my sporting career."
Ramos made his Spain debut back in 2005, when he was still a teenager. He went on to play 180 times for his country, and was part of the squad which won the World Cup in 2010 and the European Championships in 2008 and 2012.
He was left out of the national squads for both Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup, where Spain suffered a surprise elimination against Morocco which was followed by the departure of manager Luis Enrique. Luis de la Fuente has taken over in the dugout and confirmed Ramos was not part of his plans.
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"With great regret, it is the end of a journey that I hoped would be longer and that would end with a better taste in the mouth, on the height of all the successes we have achieved with our Red," Ramos' statement continued. "Humbly, I think that that career deserved to end because of a personal decision or because my performance was not up to what our National Team deserves, but not because of age or other reasons that, without having heard them, I have felt.
Sergio Ramos won the World Cup with Spain in 2010 (AFP/Getty Images)"Because being young or less young is not a virtue or a defect, it is only a temporary trait that is not necessarily related to performance or ability. I look with admiration and envy at Modric, Messi, Pepe... the essence, tradition, values, meritocracy and justice in football.
"Unfortunately it won't be like that for me, because football is not always fair and football is never just football. Through it all I take it with this sadness that I want to share with you, but also with my head very high and very grateful for all these years and for all your support.
"I take back indelible memories, all the titles we have fought and celebrated all together and the tremendous pride of being the Spanish player with the most internationalities. This shield, this shirt and this fan, all of you have made me happy.
"I will continue to cheer on my country from home with the thrill of the privileged who has been able to proudly represent it 180 times. Heartfelt thanks to everyone who always believed in me!"
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