Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos has spoken out on speculation linking Jose Mourinho with a return to the club following his departure from Manchester United, as well as rumours linking midfielder Isco with an exit in the foreseeable future.
Since replacing Julen Lopetegui with Santiago Solari, Real have enjoyed an upswing in results, and now sit just six points from leaders Barcelona heading into Christmas, with the club thought to be very much behind the new man in charge.
Solari last question is about possible Clasico Champions League final "That is something so hypothetical that you would need a DeLorean to get there."
— Dermot Corrigan (@dermotmcorrigan) December 21, 2018
Facts haven't stopped rumours going into overdrive, however, with some outlets tenuously linking Mourinho, who managed the club between 2010 and 2013, with a return to Real.
Captain Ramos wasn't having any of it when he spoke in a press conference ahead of the Club World Cup final with Al-Ain on Saturday, however, quoted by journalist Dermot Corrigan as saying that everyone must respect the man currently in charge.
Ramos asked about Mourinho [of course] "We have been five years without Mou and you [media] are still talking about him. He is someone who has a very high level marketing. We have won everything, and people still talk about him. Solari is here now and we must respect him."
— Dermot Corrigan (@dermotmcorrigan) December 21, 2018
He added, as quoted by Marca: "
"When I spoke of respect, I did it for life and not just for football. Respect is earned, it is not imposed. Nobody refuses to do anything, we are always willing to work more. There are cycles and stages, I have no problems."
"The numbers of Isco are there and it is still one more. The good thing is the competition," he said. "There are players like Ceballos that the previous season did not play and now it does. Isco has already done a lot and we all live good and bad moments. When you do not play, it's very complicated to smile."
Source : 90min