Sergio Ramos or January. It is the being or not being of Real Madrid at the moment. That’s the question. The club had been weighing the possibility of signing a center back in the winter for some time, opting more for the ‘no’ than the ‘yes’. But the internal debate was latent. Resolved as of this Saturday: Militao’s injury forces him to sign. Suffers a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament, affecting both menisci. A destruction that will return you to the hell of the operating room. And the subsequent rehabilitation, very painful. He will be out for nine months. Goodbye to this season.
So it is no longer signing on a whim, but out of urgency. By decree. Two avenues are open: a free agent now (if a ‘long-term’ injury occurs, the regulations allow a player to be registered mid-season), or wait until January. These hours have served to put the first possibility on the table. And the results are very poor. Real Madrid considers that there is no free central defender, at the moment, who is at the level of Real Madrid. Only one name appears: Sergio Ramos. But his return is practically impossible at this point in life. His relationship with the president is broken and from the offices it is understood that it is a closed chapter. But there is no unanimity.
“Right side and center, free”
Because among the fans and even some members within the club it is understood that, given the emergency situation, it is not so far-fetched. That it can be a moment to bury the hatchet and unite paths. “You have to go out on the market… and Sergio Ramos is without a team. Right back and center back, at zero cost. I see it clearly. If you want to go to the market and sign a center back for the next ten years, paying a lot of money, fine. But to end up bringing a patch, someone you don’t know how it’s going to turn out, I prefer Sergio Ramos. A man who has been in the house, who was active last year, who continues to take care of himself and who can serve these six months,” he said. littleafter the game.
In shape, at 38 years old
It is an example of a quite divided feeling. But tending towards majority. Sergio Ramos is 38 years old and has been without a team since July 1, when his contract with Sevilla ended. Boca Juniors has been after him for a while, but they haven’t convinced him. He is not seduced by the Arab route either. He wants Europe, a big one. Maybe your last. And the context has put it under this zenith. Last season he played 37 games, with a total of 3,301 minutes and scoring seven goals. Beyond not competing, he continues training, staying in shape, prepared to be 100% when someone signs him.
And the free agent market does not offer more options. Kjaer (35 years old), Alvaro Gonzalez (34) o Reki (22) are the players who are best positioned in the reports. But none of them convince. Nothing, negative. The matter is more than clear: Sergio Ramos or January. And the reality is that at Real Madrid they prefer the second. They consider that they can ‘survive’ these two months with Rüdiger and Tchouameni (whose recovery could be slightly accelerated), in addition to Jacobo (he will return in about two weeks) and Asencio. A dramatic situation, but one that would be resolved in the next market. Because Madrid doesn’t have to go out searching, it already knows what its options are. Four, specifically.
Laporte
It’s Plan A. The club already tried to sign him in the summer, but the operation did not come to fruition. And the footballer was in favor of a key factor: wants to leave Saudi Arabia. “I’m disappointed”, he confessed in an exclusive interview with AS, in January. The point is that Arabia does not make it easier for him to leave, requesting a significant amount of money. And it is on a whim, because there they have the money as punishment. But it’s a personal matter, they don’t want to make things easier, period. So if Madrid wants him, they will have to pay. Laporte is 30 years old and has a contract until 2026. Despite playing in a minor league, he remains undisputed with Spain. Like it a lot.
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Be careful
The other Plan A. A paradox, but that’s how it is. Because his situation is at the same level as Laporte. He convinces, he is loved. A center back at the level that Real Madrid demands. And that dazzled last March 6, when the Leipzig He was about to cause terror at the Bernabéu. He played a great game, he entered through the eyes. And until today. He has been followed and meets the bar. He is 21 years old, French, left-handed and with a contract until 2029. A footballer valued at 40 million, so his signing would require around that figure. It would be a notable outlay, but also a central asset for many years. Many options to go up a gear for it. In fact, From within it appears that at the moment he may be somewhat ahead of Laporte. Be careful.
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Victor Reis
Behind him is he, in a Plan B less consolidated. This is a central defender for whom there are many expectations, but less proven. To sum it up: It would be more of a bet than a sure signing. But it is one of the greatest promises on the continent and, for it, a spectacular bid is predicted soon: PSG, Arsenal, Liverpool or Chelsea, among others, want him. And Real Madrid is following him very closely, having already asked about his situation. Although for now it hasn’t gone beyond that. He is 18 years old, right-handed, Brazilian and has a contract until 2028. with a clause of 100 million that… would obviously have to be negotiated.
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Valentin Gomez
Another option that we like and very similar to that of Vitor Reis: a less established footballer, but one who promises. He is 21 years old, left-handed, Argentine and plays for Vélez Sarsfield, where he is establishing himself as an absolute reference. Central fighter, fast and with very good ball output. He has a contract until 2026 and is valued around ten million eurosbut from Argentina they are clear that they would ask for much more. International with the inferiors of the Albicelestehis jump to Europe appears. And Madrid is following him closely. He is the fourth option to sign in January, a dominant position at the moment. Because the club can sign a center-back now, but he would have to be a free agent and, of those there are, none convince. Only Sergio Ramos. But with all that that entails. The situation is clear: him, or January.
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