Soccer

“Is Mr. Sergio Ramos really a good guy?” – Former Liverpool Boss Jurgen Klopp Slams Real Madrid Icon in Explosive Rant

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Sergio Ramos Brings-Down Mohamed Salah Liverpool vs Real Madrid

Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has criticized Real Madrid icon Sergio Ramos, questioning whether he really is a good guy. The German manager referenced the 2017-18 UEFA Champions League final clash between the Whites and the Reds to note Ramos’ “ruthless and brutal” mentality.

Sergio Ramos Has Picked Up a Record Number of Red Cards

Ramos, an icon for Sevilla, Real Madrid, and Spain, is one of the most decorated players in the world. He has won four UEFA Champions League trophies, five La Liga titles, two European Championships, and the 2010 FIFA World Cup, cementing his place as one of the game’s finest-ever players.

There is, however, another side to Ramos’ story — one where he does come off as “ruthless and brutal” as Klopp mentioned. He has a reputation for doing everything in his power to end up on the winning side, including playing dirty. The Spaniard has received a whopping 29 red cards —  a record for a European soccer player. Only Colombian midfielder Gerardo Bedoya (46) saw more red cards in his career.

Ramos has also pulled off his fair share of cheeky moves in his career, one of which infamously came on Mohamed Salah in the 2017-18 UEFA Champions League final. Ramos seemingly brought Salah down in an arm-lock, hurting the Egyptian’s shoulder. The winger tried to carry on but ultimately had to come off. Without Salah, Liverpool lacked a prominent threat to the Real Madrid goal and ended up losing 3-1.

Liverpool Legend Jurgen Klopp Slams Real Madrid Icon Sergio Ramos

Speaking on Madrid legend Toni Kroos’ podcast, Einfach mal Luppen, Klopp suggested he had not forgiven Ramos for the encounter with Salah.

If you see him again and you’re not from Real Madrid you think he’s ruthless and brutal. If you put together all of Ramos’ actions, and I’ve watched football since I was five years old, you’ll see that a lot of things happen with Ramos,” said Klopp (via MARCA).

I think in a situation like Ramos with Salah someone needs to judge it better. With VAR it is a situation that you have to look at again… I don’t think Mo would have always gotten hurt in that situation. This time he was unlucky. I don’t know if it will be something that we will see again: elbowing the goalkeeper, knocking down an opponent like a wrestler in the center of the field and then winning the game.

Klopp also said he had no room for such players, suggesting he would have sold Ramos had he been in charge of Real Madrid.

He added:

Is Mr. Sergio Ramos really a good guy? He is not my favorite player. The action was brutal. Of course, he can’t know it’s going to hurt his shoulder, but we all know he accepted it very happily. I could never understand that mentality, I never had players like that and, when I did, I made sure they left.

Ramos, 38, is currently without a club. However, considering his fitness and desire to continue, a move to a lower-ranking, possibly non-European league, could be on the cards.