Real Madrid seem to be playing hardball with Sergio Ramos

Real Madrid and star center back Sergio Ramos still have not come to terms on a new contract, leaving Madridistas worried that they could play the 2021-2022 season without their captain. Optimism remains the word of the day for fans, but that optimism gets slowly chipped away with each passing day of no positive news.

According to a report from David Alvarez of El Pais, PSG have disputed reports of a lucrative contract offer to Sergio Ramos, with a source telling the newspaper that they believe the club is being “used” – presumably by Ramos to get Real Madrid to accept his terms.

The most striking section of the report, though, deals with Florentino Perez’s perspective. Sources in the Real Madrid camp told Alvarez, “If he leaves, we will bring someone else,” in reference to a potentially more lucrative offer from Ramos.

Based on the way negotiations have dragged and, per the report from El Pais, the rather impersonal proceedings of these negotiations despite a legend being involved, it appears Perez is playing hardball with the captain. He seems to be open to giving Ramos more than a one-year deal, but now the sticking point is the wages. Real Madrid want Ramos, like Luka Modric on his impending extension, to take a wage cut.

Real Madrid may already have their ‘Plan B’ for Sergio Ramos signed

Fabrizio Romano has already reported of an agreement between Real Madrid and David Alaba, but nothing is official and reports of an agreement have been denied by those close to Alaba. That makes it seem like Alaba and Real potentially have a handshake deal: Alaba will sign the offer formally if Ramos decides to take PSG’s offer and go.

Madridistas very much do not want that. Ramos is the No. 1 option, and Alaba is the contingency plan. Meanwhile, Ramos himself has seen the rumors of the money Alaba could get from Real Madrid, and it might feel like a slap in the face for the club to then ask him to take less money despite all he’s accomplished at the center back position for them over the past decade.

Perez isn’t playing around. Some fans already believe he cost the team one club legend in Cristiano Ronaldo, and if he crosses the line into disrespecting Ramos during these dragged-out negotiations, the under-fire president could very well cost Los Blancos a second legend.