Sergio Ramos called ‘petty’ over choice of jersey number for Mexico stint
Spanish defender Sergio Ramos will now be seen in action in Mexico, after signing a deal with Monterrey to play in the Liga MX. Ramos will turn 39 in March and was released Sevilla FC last summer.
The player has been a free agent for the past eight months. The deal allows Ramos to play in the next edition of the FIFA Club World Cup.
Spanish newspaper AS quoted journal Juanfe Sanz as saying that that Ramos will wear the No. 93 jersey for the Mexican club, which has sparked anger in certain sections in Madrid.
Story continues below this ad
AS quoted angry Atletico Madrid fans calling Ramos “petty and provocative” over his choice of jersey number.
Why Ramos’ 93 is angering Atletico fans?
Ramos had famously scored the equaliser in the 93rd minute at Lisbon’s Estadio da Luz against Atletico Madrid in the 2014 Champions League final.
At that point, Atletico were minutes away from becoming the champions of Europe for the first time. But Ramos’ goal had pushed the final into extra time, where Real Madrid had won 4-1.
The defender even had the number 93 tattooed on him due to this. Story continues below this ad
He won the World Cup in South Africa 2010 besides winning Euro 2012 with Spain. His resume also has five Spanish League titles and four Champions League titles with Real Madrid, where he played for 16 seasons.
He has not played an official match since May of last year when he was playing for Sevilla.
Monterrey are one of the most economically powerful clubs in Mexico. Commonly known as Rayados, the club is one of three Mexican teams that will participate in the first edition of the expanded Club World Cup set to be played in the US next summer.
“We have been trying to sign him since last summer, but we did not come to terms and we tried again in this new window,” Monterrey’s team president Jose Antonio Noriega was quoted as saying AP. “The team needs him, he has quality, enormous experience, enormous personality and he is an undisputed leader.”
© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
Expand
