Sergio Ramos will follow Lionel Messi in leaving Paris Saint-Germain this summer. The Spaniard joined PSG from Real Madrid in 2021 but struggled for playing time under Mauricio Pochettino in his debut season, appearing in only 13 games in all competitions due to recurring injuries.
However, Christophe Galtier elected to reintroduce Sergio Ramos into the starting XI with Marquinhos at the start of this season, and it is a partnership that has worked. But the veteran defender’s two-year stint at PSG hasn’t worked, and his exit was more anticipated than shocking.
Sergio Ramos stares at Saudi move after disappointing spell in Paris
Sergio Ramos will depart PSG following their last Ligue 1 game of the season against Clermont Foot on Saturday, after more than 50 appearances and five goals for the club. Following the full-time whistle, PSG will raise the league trophy for the eighth time in ten years, with the 37-year-old ready to serenade the home fans for the final time. Ramos told the club’s website after his departure was confirmed:
“Wearing the Red and Blue shirt for the last two years has been a wonderful experience. I’ve had an unforgettable adventure in Paris and I’d like to thank you all for your support and love. Allez Paris!”
Ramos rose through the ranks at Sevilla before joining Real Madrid and making a name for himself. He established himself in the Los Blancos XI and became a club icon. Ramos scored almost 100 goals in 671 appearances for the club, collecting every major award.
However, Sergio Ramos’ stint at Real Madrid ended in 2021, when he signed a two-year contract with PSG. Ramos has made over 800 games in his career and has been linked with a return to Spain, while Saudi Arabian teams are apparently interested in signing him.
He will not, however, be the only high-profile player to leave PSG this summer. Lionel Messi is poised to quit the club, after Galtier’s confirmed the same in his press conference on Thursday. Messi joined PSG alongside Ramos in the summer of 2021, following the end of his lengthy and successful career with Barcelona. Club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said of Ramos’ exit:
“We would like to express our immense gratitude to Sergio Ramos for the two years he has spent with us. Sergio’s leadership, team spirit and professionalism, combined with his experience at the highest level, make him a true football legend, and it was an honour to have him in Paris. Everyone at the club wishes him all the best.”
Sergio Ramos’ departure is expected to fuel speculation about a high-paying move to Saudi Arabia. His former Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema is expected to reject a transfer to Saudi champions A-Ittihad, and hence the chances of Ramos making it to the middle-east have boomed. However, fellow 35-year-old Messi is now odds-on to join Cristiano Ronaldo in the rich country.