After a lengthy absence, El Clasico finally returns to the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu and will do so without Sergio Ramos or Lionel Messi, two players who have massively influenced matches between Real Madrid and Barcelona over the last decade and a half. Both captains of their respective sides, they have gone on to share a dressing room at Paris Saint-Germain.
People said that the French side had made a huge statement by signing the pair, but, in reality, both players would give anything to be walking out onto the Bernabeu pitch tonight.
It can be argued that they did not make the best possible decision. Ramos and Messi left with tears in their eyes and their voices cracking. Ramos wanted to do a U-turn when it was impossible. Messi was forced to make the move after the situation at Barcelona worsened.
These eight months in Paris have been nothing like they’ve experienced before. Injuries and sadness have seriously affected two players who in the past seemed invincible.
Ramos is looking to rediscover himself as a player after 14 months of injury problems. He is close to doing so, but until he plays five games in a row he won’t feel like he’s back. He willingly went back to Madrid to watch his new side in their Champions League second leg and it will have served as a reminder of what he’s missing.
Messi has not been helped by the environment in France. Paris is not Barcelona and PSG have not been at the required level either, which has made it even more difficult to find form. He’s simply not performing at the level expected of him.
An impossible return for Messi and Ramos
Some are talking of one or both of these players returning to their former clubs. Although the French capital is geographically close to Spain’s two main cities, they are figuratively very far away from going back.
PSG simply won’t allow it to happen. These were two players who were lauded as kings when they arrived in Paris and the club want to keep a hold of them.
One thing is for sure, however. The Clasico won’t be the same without them.
Marca
