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Wednesday 24 Apr 2024
LOCAL EDITION
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LOCAL EDITION
PSG's Sergio Ramos celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the French Cup soccer match between Olympique de Marseille and Paris Saint Germain at the Velodrome stadium in Marseille, southern France, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
French champions Paris Saint-Germain [PSG] have said that veteran former Spain defender Sergio Ramos will join Lionel Messi in leaving the club at the end of the season.
"We would like to express our immense gratitude to Sergio Ramos for the two years he has spent with us," PSG president Nasser Al Khelaifi said in a statement on Friday.
"Sergio's leadership, team spirit and professionalism, combined with his experience at the highest level, make him a true football legend, and it was an honour to have him in Paris.
"Everyone at the club wishes him all the best," Al Khelaifi added.
Ramos, 37, arrived in the French capital in 2021 after a trophy-laden spell with Real Madrid.
The announcement comes less than 24 hours before PSG's final game of the Ligue 1 season as they host Clermont.
Ramos follows Argentina's 2022 World Cup winner Messi in leaving the Parc des Princes with reports also linking Brazil's Neymar with a departure.
The ex-Sevilla defender won Ligue 1 twice in Paris, playing 57 games and his PSG contract ends on June 30.
"Tomorrow is a special day, tomorrow I will say goodbye to another stage of my life, goodbye to @psg," Ramos said on social media.
"I don't know in how many places one can feel at home, but without a doubt PSG, the fans, and Paris were one of them for me.
"Thank you for two special years in which I was able play in every tournament and give my all," he added.
Mañana será un día especial, mañana diré adiós a otra etapa de mi vida, adiós al @PSG_espanol.
— Sergio Ramos (@SergioRamos) June 2, 2023
No sé en cuántos lugares uno puede sentirse como en casa pero, sin duda, el PSG, su afición y París han sido uno de ellos para mí. pic.twitter.com/961LqCYvQc
Milestones and records
Ramos, who won the 2010 World Cup and Messi, arrived in the same summer eyeing a Champions League title with PSG.
They were knocked out in the last 16 of both editions.
The Spanish defender started his career in 2004 at Sevilla, before transferring to Real Madrid in 2005, where he won 5 La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey titles, and 4 UEFA Champions League titles.
With Spain, he won two European Championships in 2008 and 2012 along with the biggest trophy, 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
Ramos was integral to the squad and played every single minute of every single game.
Ramos has made 180 international appearances, more than anyone in the country's history.
He also holds another record of scoring 72 goals in La Liga, more than any defender in La Liga's history.
Another record to him, though not a positive one, is the highest number of red cards in the sport, being sent-off 20 times.
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Source: TRT
