Sergio Ramos Bids Farewell To Monterrey After Contract Ends

Mexico City: Three days after Monterrey’s elimination in the Mexican Apertura semi-finals, Spanish defender Sergio Ramos bid farewell to his team.

Ramos, 39, arrived in Mexico on a one-year contract that ended with Monterrey’s elimination on Saturday.

“Saying goodbye is never easy. A phase of my career that started with great excitement in February has ended,” Ramos said on his official social media accounts on Tuesday. “It allowed me to discover a new country, a new city, a new style of football and left me with many new experiences and, more importantly, new friends.”

As Monterrey’s captain, Ramos played in 34 matches in all competitions and scored 8 goals.

“I left everything on and off the field to perform at my best,” the defender said. “I will always look back fondly on this phase of my career.”

Monterrey, commonly known as Rayados, is one of the most economically powerful clubs in the country.

The team’s president, Jose Antonio Noriega, said the club and Ramos could not agree on an extension, without providing further details.

Ramos, who became the world champion with Spain in 2010 and the European champion in 2008 and 2012, won five Spanish La Liga championships and four Champions League championships during 16 seasons with his club Real Madrid.