This might explain why he appeared so eager to be get a red card.
Sergio Ramos has been sent-off 21 times in his career, and was lucky to last 84 minutes of Saturday night’s El Classico before receiving his marching orders.
The Real Madrid captain was booked after 10 minutes of the 2-1 win over Barcelona at the Nou Camp, and arguably should have received a second yellow card for a clear foul on Lionel Messi in the 27th minute.
There was also this foul on Luis Suarez in the second half.
When Ramos was eventually sent-off for a lunge late in the game, it looked as though he had cost his side a chance to score a victory over their great rivals.
However, 10 man Madrid looked dangerous on the counter-attack and weren’t weakened by their captain’s absence, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring a late winner.
Ramos was so impressed by his team’s performance following his red card that he joked to the Spanish media after the game that he wished he had have been sent off sooner.
“If I’d known we were going to win with 10 (players) I’d have got myself sent off in the 5th minute,” Ramos said.
Ramos: “If I’d known we were going to win with 10 I’d have got myself sent off in the 5th minute”.
— AS English (@English_AS) April 2, 2016
Judging by some of Ramos’ tackles during the game, you could be forgiven for thinking the Spanish defender was in fact actively seeking to be sent-off.
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