Real Madrid centre-back Sergio Ramos is now eager to accept the club's demands over a one-year contract on a reduced salary, but he is concerned that the damage to his relationship with Real may already have been done.
Ramos, whose deal expires at the end of this month, had consistently knocked back Real's offer, pushing for a two-year deal without the COVID-enforced salary cut that has been pushed on the entire squad, and Los Blancos eventually pulled out of talks to start planning for a future without Ramos.
On top of their frustrations towards Ramos' demands, Real were also unimpressed to see him urging his team-mates to reject the pay cuts amid fears the money would simply be handed to PSG's Kylian Mbappe (which is fair enough really), and AS note that president Florentino Perez is no longer sure whether he even wants to keep the defender.
Ramos has made it clear that he would now be willing to sign the one-year deal with the reduced salary that Real have always been pushing for, but Perez is not currently planning to restart negotiations. He is pushing ahead with plans for replacements and is even preparing a farewell ceremony for the 35-year-old.
Things have hit a bit of a stand-still. Ramos appears to be too proud to reach out to Perez and admit his desire, while the president has refused to make the first move after being left feeling disrespected by the club captain.
However, according to Marca, Perez would hand Ramos a new deal if the centre-back made the first move. If Ramos picks up the phone, apologises for his actions and asks for a one-year contract, he will get it.
Despite consistently flirting with the idea of leaving, Ramos is understood to be desperate to remain at the Santiago Bernabeu, particularly after the appointment of Carlo Ancelotti, with whom he has a close relationship.
Ancelotti has also made it clear that he wants to see Ramos stay, but the new manager has accepted that things are a little too complex now. The matter must be resolved between Ramos and Perez.
The door is open for Ramos, just as it is for centre-back partner Raphael Varane, who has been offered a new deal to prevent him from entering the final 12 months of his current contract.
Real would obviously like to keep Varane but have made it abundantly clear that they will not allow the Frenchman to treat them like Ramos has. If he does not sign a new deal in the coming weeks, he will be sold and Real will move on.
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This article was originally published on 90min as Sergio Ramos ready to agree to Real Madrid contract extension.
Source: www.90min.com