European football leagues are among the most popular in the world, but fans and players often voice their preference for one of those leagues over another. Sergio Ramos, a 28 year old defender for Real Madrid, threw his own controversial opinion into the ring during a recent La Liga fixture against Athletico Madrid.
Ramos was fouled during a scramble for the ball with Athletico’s Raul Garcia, which led to a penalty and a goal for the Red and Whites. Fuming that the referees handed him the penalty, Ramos told the press after the Copa Del Rey game that he prefers the UK football league.
“The only thing I will say is that, with every passing day, I prefer the English Premier League. The style of play, refereeing. People enjoy watching that competition.”
It’s not the first time rumours led fans to bet on Ramos’ potential transfer to the Premier League. The defender was previously linked to a potential deal that would bring him to Old Trafford as a member of Manchester United. Club boss Louis van Gaal is continuing to rebuild the United side, placing a greater emphasis on finding defensive stars like Ramos.
Chelsea is also supposedly interested in his talents, eyeing Ramos as a viable replacement for captain John Terry when he decides to hang up his cleats. Sources close to Arsenal and Liverpool are betting that if Ramos is serious about transferring to the Premier League, he could easily find a home with either the Gunners or the Reds.
Ramos has played for Real Madrid since 2005, two years after reaching the senior level of La Liga with Sevilla. He is under contract with Real until 2017, but may find a way out of his agreement before the deadline.