Are Real Madrid ready for life after Sergio Ramos?

Sergio Ramos and Real Madrid are reportedly at an impasse in contract negotiations. Is Ramos’ time running out as the talisman at the Santiago Bernabeu?

While Cristiano Ronaldo, with his 312 goals in 292 appearances, may have earned his place as the face of Real Madrid for the best part of a decade, nobody encapsulated the character of the capital club over that time like Sergio Ramos. The captain’s armband around his bicep wasn’t just for show. He was Los Blancos’ spiritual leader and still is to this day.

Now, though, Ramos’ career is into its twilight. At 34 years old, he is fading as a force. A lesser personality would have faded faster, it is to Ramos’ great credit that he remains a first-team figure for one of the best teams in Europe, but for all that the center-back has made a profession out of defying opponents, frequently rubbing their face in it, he cannot defy the effects of time.

An exit route might just be opening up. Ramos is out of contract at the end of the 2020-21 season with recent reports revealing an impasse in negotiations between the player and the Santiago Bernabeu club over an extension. The 34-year-old apparently wants a new two-year deal while Real Madrid are only willing to offer one.

It was just last summer that Ramos asked to leave the Spanish capital. The center-back’s relationship with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has been strained for some time and it resulted in a complete breakdown last year, prompting Ramos to demand a move to the Chinese Super League.

Perez rejected Ramos’ last demand, but it would be of no surprise if he bows to his next one. Increasingly prone to errors and vulnerable in the big games, Real Madrid no longer depend on Ramos like they once did. In fact, Raphael Varane has usurped Ramos as Los Blancos’ dominant center-back with Eder Militao, signed from Porto last summer, already proven as a solid partner for the Frenchman.

Real Madrid are in the midst of a generational transition. They are stuck between one age and the next, illustrated by the makeup of their current team. Karim Benzema and Luka Modric play alongside Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior, and Ramos still still commands a place at the heart of their defense, but perhaps not at the heart of the club for much longer.