Zidane: I want Ramos to stay, but you never know what will happen

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 19 May 2021 12:09 BST
• 2 min read

Zinedine Zidane insists he wants Sergio Ramos and team-mate Lucas Vazquez to stay at the club, but admits he doesn’t know what will happen with regards to their contracts.

Ramos has solidified himself into a legend of the club since moving from Sevilla in 2005, eventually becoming captain a decade later after veteran goalkeeper Iker Casillas left for Porto.

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Despite his exploits and undeniable contributions to the team, even now at 34-years-old, Real Madrid are yet to tie him down to a new contract, with his current deal running out in the summer of 2021.

Ramos wants a two-year deal, while Madrid are only offering one year, for the moment.

His agent and brother recently slammed Los Blancos for their treatment of the talismanic centre-back.

Zidane has continually said he wants Ramos to stay, and reiterated his desire again, mentioning Vazquez too.

“I don’t want them to, but in football you never know,” Zidane responded when asked about Ramos and Vazquez leaving.

“The important thing is that it be fixed. You know what I think and I hope it is fixed.”

When pressed for more comments on Ramos specifically, and whether the club could afford to lose another huge figure similar to Cristiano Ronaldo, Zidane was coy in his response.

“We will see what will happen. At the moment he is here and we are thinking about tomorrow’s game,” the Frenchman said, looking ahead to Real Madrid’s game against Osasuna.

Should Ramos actually leave Real Madrid in the summer, PSG are reportedly leading the race for his signature, though Liverpool and Man Utd have been credited with an interest, too.

In terms of incomings in January, Real Madrid have been linked with a move for Villarreal’s Pau Torres. However, it is unclear whether the club view the central defender as a replacement or a team-mate for Ramos.