Sergio Ramos: "I can perform five more years at the highest level"

Sergio Ramos on Thursday staged the renewal of his contract ... with Amazon, under whose protection he answered questions from the press for the first time in six months, during which the negotiations with President Florentino Pérez about his future at Real Madrid were barely They have advanced.

"There is nothing new.

Everything remains the same.

There is no news that I can comment on here today, I would like to.

But I guarantee you that as soon as there is any news I will be the first to communicate it ”, lamented the footballer, whose contract expires in three and a half months, on June 30.

The disagreement of the negotiations is still installed on how long his contract should be.

According to various sources consulted from both the club and the footballer's environment, Pérez prefers to sign him one more year, with a 10% reduction in salary due to the impact of the coronavirus, while the footballer, who understands the economic tightness, aspires to guarantee two seasons extra.

The president of the club distrusts how long Ramos can maintain his performance, and the player applied this Thursday to deactivate that distrust with several reminders about his dedication to work, his physical condition, and even invoking the most legendary president of the institution: " I am 34 years old, and I will turn 35 shortly, but Santiago Bernabéu said that there are no young or old players, but good or bad.

They should not be judged on their age, but on their performance.

But to perform three, four or five more years at the highest level ”, assured the Madrid captain.

The presentation of the second season of their documentary series,

The Legend of Sergio Ramos

(will premiere on April 9), was the first time that any of the parties has publicly referred to a dispute that they have maintained for months for via interposed.

It happened in a very controlled environment, in a press conference in which it was prohibited to take images of what could be seen in

streaming

, and in which the moderator chose, from among those sent in writing, which questions to ask Ramos.

None about its renewal.

Half of those he made, anonymous.

Only when the journalists' question time was closed, the moderator asked him to tell something about his future at Real Madrid.

"I have no news, there is nothing new," summed up the captain.

The launching act ended, but the defense of the validity of his vigor continued.

From the same hotel he connected with Ibai Llanos for a talk broadcast through the Twitch platform, also owned by Amazon, the richest fishing ground for young audiences, where, more relaxed, friendly, fun at times, Ramos elaborated on the details how it looks: “People are taking care of themselves, they eat better, rest well, train better.

There are a number of players who were already doing it 10 years ago.

I always say it when I speak with my colleagues or with my soccer people, that my 34 is the 28 of 10 years ago.

And the good thing about it is that if you sowed 10 years ago, today you reap.

Therefore, as long as the physique holds me, which I think I can because I have sown a lot, now I am harvesting and I feel practically better, stronger, faster.

If you add to all this experience, which is a plus, I think it is very positive to face the next few years.

I even see myself leaving football earlier due to a mental problem than a physical problem, ”said the central defender.

Wish for another record

With this outlook, he drew an ambitious time horizon: "I can perform three, four or five more years at the highest level," he said.

"And if my head holds me, I think I could reach the World Cup in Mexico", which will be held in 2026 also in the United States and Canada, when the footballer would have already turned 40.

There Ramos reappeared eager to devour records: “That is a number that is there ... He would be the only player in history who would play six World Cups.

Qatar's would be my fifth ... ”, he said.

At that point, he stressed again that he does not see the performance of his body as an obstacle, and that in any case only his mind could be: “You have to go with the day to day.

See how you feel, how you feel, how you think, what you win, what you don't win ... ”.

Although he does not neglect mental work, which he has added to the repertoire of his professional routines: “You are meeting interesting people who work on

mindfulness

,

mindfulness

on something, on

coaching

, and all that adds up a lot.

A friend, Mario Alonso Puig, gives me advice, teaches me to meditate, something I didn't do before ”.

Ramos' moment for this is after training when, except on the eve of a match, he goes to his fixed appointment with the Turkish bath: “I like to disconnect there, and leave my mind blank, control my breathing.

That is my little moment of the day where I try to escape from the routine and I like it and it serves me ”.

When all that is exhausted, or if the negotiations for his renewal do not bear fruit, Ramos is clear about how he wants to end Madrid: “I hope it will be in a long time, but in the end it does not only depend on you.

But I would like to leave as I think I deserve, through the front door, with the recognition and affection that I have for all of Madrid and the whole club;

May it also be returned to you for having spent so many years wearing and feeling this shield ”.

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