'Club World Cup is a huge showcase' - Four-time CWC champion Sergio Ramos confident Monterrey can deliver in tournament, saying 'we’ll face Inter head-on'

Ahead of Monterrey’s FIFA Club World Cup debut against Champions League runners-up Inter Milan, veteran defender Sergio Ramos expressed his excitement and expectations for the tournament.

“This is a unique opportunity, with a new format and a beautiful trophy to fight for. Winning it would be a dream,” said Ramos, who lifted the Club World Cup four times during his tenure at Real Madrid. “For me, it’s not about pressure - it’s motivation. I want to prove I can still perform. In our team talks, I’ve stressed the importance of staying united and bringing the right personality into a tournament of this caliber.”

With several players making their debut in the competition, Ramos has taken on a mentoring role. He encouraged his younger teammates to seize the stage, saying, “Playing in a Club World Cup is a huge showcase for anyone who dreams of making it to Europe. We’ll face Inter head-on."

The defender shared with Esto what it’s been like to share a locker room with the World Cup-winner.

“Honestly, I never imagined I’d be playing alongside Sergio Ramos. We even joked among ourselves, wondering how we were going to handle it - he’s a global icon,” Victor Guzmán said. “What surprised us the most wasn’t his résumé - we all know what he’s accomplished on the field - but his humility. There was a lot of uncertainty when his signing was announced, and we weren’t sure what to expect.

"But from day one, he’s been incredibly down-to-earth, always greeting and saying goodbye to everyone. That might sound normal, but in football, big-name players often keep their distance. With Sergio, we’ve never felt that -and I don’t think we ever will. He’s just a great guy.”

Rayados de Monterrey is set to make its sixth appearance in the FIFA Club World Cup, a record among Liga MX clubs. Their journey to this point began with a historic three-year streak of CONCACAF Champions League titles from 2011 to 2013, securing them consecutive spots in the global tournament.

In 2011 and 2013, Monterrey finished in fifth place, while they achieved third place in 2012. After a six-year hiatus, they returned in 2019, once again clinching third. In their most recent participation in 2021, they were narrowly defeated in the fifth-place match.

Domènec Torrent's team are set to face Inter Milan on Tuesday night, followed by River Plate (June 21) and Urawa Red Diamonds (June 25).