SERGIO RAMOS HAS sought to rubbish reports suggesting that there is a rift between he and Real Madrid team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo.
It has been claimed that the pair no longer see eye to eye at the Santiago Bernabeu following disagreements over a number of issues.
Ronaldo’s public questioning of Real’s transfer policy over the summer is said to have irked Ramos, with the Portuguese star expressing his frustration at seeing Pepe, Fabio Coentrao and James Rodriguez leave the club.
Ramos’ support for a potential move to bring former Barcelona star Neymar to the Spanish capital is also reported to have disappointed Ronaldo, leading to a breakdown in a once solid relationship.
Real’s captain has, however, rubbished any talk of a feud and maintains that both men are “pulling in the same direction”.
Ramos told TVE: “Nothing has ever happened between him and me. There has always been a great friendship between us. We have a lot of personality and have some different opinions, but we’re pulling in the same direction.”
Real need everybody to be on the same page at present as their 2017-18 campaign is in danger of unravelling. A series of disappointing performances have left the defending La Liga champions eight points off the pace in the title race, with Zinedine Zidane’s side perched in fourth spot.
They will also finish as runners-up to Tottenham in their Champions League group, although they are assured of a place in the last 16. Progress has also been made in the Copa del Rey, but they were held to a shock 2-2 draw by third-tier Fuenlabrada in the second leg of their last-32 encounter.
Ronaldo, Ramos & Co. will be hoping to start building some momentum over the coming weeks, with a European date with Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday set to be followed by a domestic tie with Sevilla and then a trip to Abu Dhabi for the Club World Cup.
Once Zidane’s side return to Spain, they will head into the winter break on the back of a first El Clasico clash of the season with Barcelona on 23 December.
Our decline is now complete …. We are the new Scotland.
I think that Cyprus defeat is far too long ago now to still be an issue in the slightest. Euro 2012 was a killer though and I’d prefer we didn’t qualify for Euro 2016 as I couldn’t stomach another humiliation on that scale.
That was a desperately unlucky draw, that was a nightmare group.
What fan doesn’t want their team to qualify though?
A win against Poland and Scotland at home and it’ll all appear a lot differently. On our day, with the right players fit, we are more than capable of doing so.
This article is one hell of a knee-jerk reaction. Scrappy game, tough atmosphere against a side who a better than us on current form. It’ll probably be the exact same game at home but i fancy us to win it
The article title may be a genuinely held belief but it’s guff. Ireland is a third tier team full of journeymen players. That our first choice keeper still plays for Millwall, and our first choice striker is pension age should be enough of a red flag for even the most loyal supporters.
Once we accept that, then results like last night’s can be appreciated with perspective….
Opinions not allowed on here?
Greece sacking Ranieri is knee jerk; this article isn’t.
It’s well thought out and to the point. Too many Irish fans are shamelessly clinging onto the hope that the national side have a sincere hope of performing consistently. They don’t.
A few positive results might improve the overall standings for a newly formatted competition which is near impossible not to qualify for. Qualification for Euro 2016 is not a great achievement, yet it’s one which Irish fans should be overwhelmed with. Under par achievements are the best Ireland will ever attain.