Sergio Ramos has commented on ‘excessive Clasico tensions’, saying they are now in the past, as he reflects on his ‘bullfighting’ tendencies.
Barcelona and Real Madrid notably saw controversy grow during a series of Clasico meetings across three competitions at the business end of the 2010-11 season.
However, with the intervention of Iker Casillas and Xavi Hernandez, the players involved together at a national level have resolved issues, having gone on to win the European Championships a year later in Poland and Ukraine.
“The tension between the Madrid and Barca players, after this series of games that we played in the Champions League and Copa, it was excessive,” reflected Ramos in FourFourTwo’s latest edition.
“But we found a solution and it has been put behind us. We cannot live in the past and we must look to the future.
“There was talk that I had a problem with Pique and this was not so. We have since spent time together and I have seen that he is a great guy with a big heart.”
The defender reflected on what makes him the player he is, including one particular passion that defines his character.
“I am a person who discusses things clearly, whether you like it or not. I always tell people what I think. There is certain bullfighter character to me.
“My family is passionate about bulls and so am I. I considered becoming a bullfighter, but I eventually opted for football.
“One example [of this characteristic] was the penalty against Portugal [at Euro 2012]. It came after the miss in the Champions League semi-finals against Bayern.
“The latter had a great impact and was widely criticised. My family suffered, especially my mother and my sister, so I wanted to make it up to them. And it was with this Panenka penalty.
“Before the game, I spoke to Del Bosque and asked: ‘if there is a penalty, can I chip it?’ He laughed and said that when the time came I would not have the guts.
“Well, the opportunity came and I decided. And so it happened.”
