Ramos slams Spain boss as he announces international retirement

World Cup winner Sergio Ramos fired a parting shot at Spain boss Luis de la Fuente as he retired from international football.

Ramos, 36, was capped a record 180 times for his country, lifting the European Championship in 2008 and 2012 to go alongside La Roja's success in the biggest tournament of them all in 2010.

But having not featured since March 2021, the Paris Saint-Germain defender has decided to draw the curtain on a glittering career on the global stage.

In a post on Instagram, he said: "The time has come, the time to say goodbye to the national team.

"This morning I received the call from the current coach who told me that he doesn't count and that he won't count on me, regardless of the level I can show or how I continue my sporting career.

"With great regret, it is the end of a journey that I hoped would be longer and that would end with a better taste in the mouth, on the height of all the successes we have achieved.

"Humbly, I think that career deserved to end because of a personal decision or because my performance was not up to what our national team deserves, but not because of age or other reasons that, without having heard them, I have felt."

Ramos continued: "Being young or less young is not a virtue or a defect, it is only a temporary trait that is not necessarily related to performance or ability.

"I look with admiration and envy at [Luka] Modric, [Lionel] Messi, Pepe.

"Unfortunately, it won't be like that for me, because football is not always fair and football is never just football.

"Through it all, I take it with this sadness that I want to share with you, but also with my head very high and very grateful for all these years and for all your support.

"I take back indelible memories, all the titles we have fought and celebrated all together and the tremendous pride.

"All of you have made me happy. I will continue to cheer on my country from home with the thrill of the privileged who has been able to proudly represent it 180 times. 

"Heartfelt thanks to everyone who always believed in me!"