The prospect of Sergio Ramos making a shock move to Egyptian club SC Zamalek remains a ‘possibility’ but some key stumbling blocks remain.
The Spaniard has won the lot with club and country in a glittering career spanning 19 years and almost 1,000 matches – and a fair few red cards.
His glory days came at Real Madrid where he lifted five La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues, as well as being a central cog in his national side’s World Cup and European Championship-winning campaigns.
Ramos spent last season at boyhood club Sevilla, having played at Paris Saint-Germain for a couple of years, but left in the summer after making 37 appearances.
The centre-back remains on the radar of a number of teams, with speculation unsurprisingly mounting as to his future, but long-term admirers Zamalek have revealed that his lucrative salary demands are proving a barrier, ESPN reports.
The prospect of Segio Ramos making a shock move to Egyptian club SC Zamalek remains a ‘possibility’
The centre-back remains on the radar of the Egyptian side who have won the African Super Cup
Ramos’s glory days came at Real Madrid where he won five La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues
Ahmed Shawky, the Egyptian giants’ media coordinator, said: ‘Some agents and mediators offered the possibility.
‘Of course, Sergio Ramos is a fantastic player who won everything with Real Madrid and Spain. He would be a massive player for any side in the Middle East or Africa.’
‘There’s nothing concrete so far, and the player is highly valued financially [has a high salary]. We also have to bear in mind that Zamalek have also signed other centrebacks recently.’
The Zamalek official previously told OnTime Sports: ‘There’s been talk with Ramos in order for him to join Zamalek, he welcomed the interest and agreed to play in Egypt.
‘The difficulty is really in the financial aspects and the amounts requested by the Spanish star. It’s the main reason for not completing the deal.
‘We’ve thought about the marketing advantages for the club of the player’s name, but the amounts that have been requested are very large and have made things difficult.’
Rumours that the 38-year-old might be heading off to north Africa first began swirling ahead of the side’s CAF Super Cup final against Al Ahly which saw the Cairo outfit beat their bitter rivals on penalties on September 27.
While an array of footballing icons, including Ramos’s Real teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, have made the switch to the Middle East in recent years, few have chosen Egypt as their destination.
Ramos fulfilled an ambition of returning to where it all began when he traded Paris for Seville in 2023. He began his career at the La Liga side
The centre-back won consecutive titles at Paris Saint-Germain in a successful spell
He is his country’s leading cap-winner and won the World Cup in South Africa in 2010
Former Chelsea star Florent Malouda proved a notable exception when he headed off to Wadi Degla FC in 2016 at the age of 35. The French winger scored three and assisted eight in 18 matches for the side.
Ramos fulfilled an ambition of returning to where it all began when he traded Paris for Seville in 2023 and penned an emotional farewell to the club over the summer on social media.
The tough-tackling defender said: ‘Nine months after putting on the @sevillafc shirt again with tears of emotion in my eyes, I say goodbye to Sevilla with tears of gratitude.
‘Thanks to the club, team-mates, technicians and employees for this season. Thanks to my family, my eternal support, and thanks, especially, to the fans of Sevilla FC, who knew how to excuse my mistakes and who have given me all that love that cannot be described in words.
‘I signed with Sevilla, motivated by two dreams: to pay tribute to Antonio Puerta, to Jose Antonio Reyes, to my grandparents, may they rest in peace, and to my father; and to demonstrate my Sevillismo in the best way I know how, leaving my life on the field to help the team in a delicate situation.
‘With pride and emotion I can say that both have been accomplished.
‘A stage concludes, the season ends and a new one has to begin, of which I will not be a part. I had the dream of saying goodbye to Sevilla at the Ramon Sánchez-Pizjuan and my dream has come true.
‘It has been a very hard season emotionally, very demanding, but I have always tried to give the best example, the best version.
Sergio Ramos penned an emotional message to Sevilla fans after revealing he would be leaving the club for a second time
His next destination was rumoured to be new club San Diego FC, who will play at Snapdragon Stadium
While an array of footballing icons, including Ramos’s Real teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, have made the switch to the Middle East in recent years, few have chosen Egypt
‘I have not yet decided where I am going to play next season, but wherever I am, Sevilla FC will have the staunch support of a Sevillista of birth and heart. Thank you very much to all.’
He also attended a final press conference to announce his departure in June.
For a brief time, the Spaniard was linked with yet-to-be-established MLS side San Diego FC who are expected to join the league this year.