Champions League in November 2017, Ronaldo complained that the club shouldn’t have offloaded Pepe, Alvaro Morata and James Rodriguez in the offseason in favor of promoting several young Spanish players, per Marca.
Ramos disagreed that the squad was “weaker.” When Ramos was asked shortly afterward about what the future held for Ronaldo—who is locked in stalled contract renewal negotiations with the club—he was dismissive: “Is Cristiano leaving? Ask him. I don’t know about these things,” per Marca. Ramos then made peace, however, in a television interview before Christmas, citing their “great friendship.”
“Sergio has quite a good relationship with Cristiano,” Torres says. “They have passed through a complicated moment. In other seasons, they had a better relationship than now. Now they are a bit further apart. Cristiano is colder, more distant. Cristiano is [battling] with the club. He’s trying to improve his contract. He’s distanced himself a bit from the team. He hasn’t played as many games. He’s not aligned with Sergio Ramos.
“But in general they get on very well. They have a professional relationship that is very good. It’s one of the keys to the success of Real Madrid.”
Another key to Real Madrid’s domination in Europe and a five-trophy haul in 2017 is the goals Ramos gets. He scored 10 last season in 44 games, per Diario AS, a remarkable haul for a defender. He has a knack, too, for scoring clutch goals, including an injury-time equalizer against Atletico Madrid in the 2014 UEFA Champions League final. It typified his never-say-die attitude. Ramos now has a “92.48” tattoo—the time on the clock when his header flew into the net—to remind him of the moment, per El Mundo.
“Sergio has that character which is essential to be an idol in Real Madrid’s Bernabeu Stadium. He has what people call ‘the Juanito spirit,'” says Ramon Calderon, a former Real Madrid president, referencing the club’s beloved winger Juanito, who died in a car crash in 1992 at age 37.
“Juanito was a player like Sergio, a very strong character with a lot of stamina who gives until the last gasp when playing. That’s why Sergio was able to score a goal in added time in Lisbon, because he gives everything he’s got on the pitch. That is very important in our club. It’s what our fans are always looking for. They can’t forgive a player who is wearing the white shirt if he doesn’t give 100 percent.”
Ramos’ commitment means he often steps over the line. He has collected 24 red cards in his career with Real Madrid, including a league-record 19 in La Liga, per Guardian, although curiously he has never been sent off in 151 appearances for Spain.