Remember when Real Madrid wouldn’t give in and offer their long-serving captain Sergio Ramos a two-year contract? It’s the club’s policy not to hand their over-thirty players deals longer than a single season. And if you ever wondered why is that – well, now you know.Ramos refused a single-year extension in Madrid and opted to switch to Paris Saint-Germain until 2013. That’s what he wanted and that’s what he’s gotten in the end. But what did the Parisians get? So far – a permanently injured player who costs $185,000 every week. Sergio Ramos 🗣 : ” Ronaldo is exceptional but for me Messi is the greatest of all time. Ronaldo can never be on Messi’s level “Source in comments pic.twitter.com/M9maHw4IeX— GoatedMessi (@messi_goated) September 6, 2021 Sergio Ramos spent most of his final Real Madrid campaign out with injury. He was deemed fit enough at the time he agreed to the PSG move, with only thorough pre-season preparations needed for the legendary defender to return to his best condition. However, he picked up a calf injury in July, the injury that’s been keeping him out ever since. Because of the latest setback, Ramos has missed the entire pre-season programme with his new team and is looking far from returning to the first-team picture.It’s now been more than 120 days since Ramos’ last meaningful runout, Real Madrid’s 2-0 Champions League defeat at Chelsea. Out of the last 35 fixtures – he only appeared in five. And he’s certain to miss PSG’s next two matches, Saturday’s Ligue 1 match against Clermont and the club’s Champions League opener at Club Brugge on Wednesday.PSG’s strategy for keeping Mbappe: President Macron, 3.2 billion and the familySigning a 35-year-old player is a gamble, of course – and Paris boss Mauricio Pochettino, along with his employers, was well aware of the risk. But the quality, leadership skills and experience of Ramos were simply too valuable to pass on. Now it’s up to the medical staff to get the former Spain international back to fitness.In the meantime, a centre-back partnership consisting of captain Marquinhos and Presnel Kimpembe works well enough for the Saints. Having the former World Cup champion in the fold would be more than welcome, but they will have to wait some more until the troublesome calf is fully healed.Most International Wins Active Players :1⃣3⃣1⃣ – Sergio Ramos 🇪🇸1⃣0⃣6⃣ – Cristiano Ronaldo 🇵🇹9⃣7⃣ – Andrés Guardado 🇲🇽9⃣1⃣ – Lionel Messi 🇦🇷9⃣0⃣ – Sergio Busquets 🇪🇸8⃣7⃣ – Jan Vertonghen 🇧🇪8⃣2⃣ – Cesc Fàbregas 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/CJEleBRpR8— Yanek Stats (@yanekstats) September 5, 2021 Parc des Princes will be rocking against newly-promoted Clermont regardless of the choices made by Pochettino. And the biggest one will be the choice of goalkeeper. Is it time for Gianluigi Donnarumma to get a runout in front of the home crowd or does the boss stick with Keylor Navas? In his own admission – he still doesn’t know.The fifth matchday of the Ligue 1 will bring us an intriguing clash between Monaco and Olympique Marseille on Saturday night. Hopefully, there won’t be any bottle-throwing and clashes with police. We’re looking at you, Dimitri Payet…LIGUE 1 – Round 5Friday22.00: (3.25) Lorient (3.05) Lille (2.45)Saturday18.00: (1.32) PSG (5.50) Clermont (9.00)22.00: (2.10) Monaco (3.45) Olympique Marseille (3.50)Sunday14.00: (2.70) Montpellier (3.15) Saint-Etienne (2.70)16.00: (2.75) Brest (3.05) Angers (2.75)16.00: (2.30) Metz (3.10) Troyes (3.35)16.00: (3.10) Bordeaux (3.25) Lens (2.35)16.00: (1.75) Rennes (3.50) Reims (5.10)18.00: (3.25) Nantes (3.20) Nice (2.30)21.45: (1.57) Olympique Lyon (4.00) Strasbourg (6.00)***odds are subject to change
