'I’d rather die standing than live on my knees' - Sergio Ramos appears to take swipe at Florentino Perez over Real Madrid exit in surprise debut single as a music artist

The World Cup-winning defender left Santiago Bernabeu in 2021 after 16 years with the Blancos. During an iconic spell in the Spanish capital, Ramos won five La Liga titles and four Champions League crowns.

Ramos scored 101 goals through 671 appearances, taking on captaincy duties and becoming a modern day legend. It came as a shock to many when he departed, with a move to Paris Saint-Germain being made in the same summer as Barcelona icon Lionel Messi.

Ramos was supposedly reluctant to take on a new challenge, despite initially turning down the offer of a new contract in Madrid, with the 39-year-old seemingly referencing his acrimonious departure in a song titled ‘Cibeles’ - a nod to the famous site where Real celebrate their title triumphs.

In the opening lines of said track, Ramos says: “There are things I didn’t tell you that still hurt me. I never wanted to leave, you asked me to fly.” He goes on to say: “I wasn’t in me, you asked me to fly, thank goodness I left, because you didn’t treat me the same. I’d rather die standing than live on my knees, you forgot about me, you left me aside. Without being able to decide, that’s what hurts me the most.”

Despite still having a bone to pick with Real president Perez, who informed him that a contract proposal had expired when a legendary figure was finally ready to sign, Ramos - who is now on the books of Mexican outfit Monterrey - is prepared to bury the hatchet at some point, saying in more lyrics from his song: “And although everything was like that, I would be delighted to return.”