Real Madrid legend was this close to joining a Brazilian giant

In the middle of the Brazilian league, Corinthians does not hide its joy due to the latest reinforcements. In addition to incorporating Memphis Depay into the squad, the entity signed names like André Ramalho, who came from PSV. With this new impulse, the team left the relegation zone and now dreams of getting into the Libertadores.

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Behind this current upswing is a backstage story that could have taken Corinthians to the next level. That story is Sergio Ramos, the legend of Real Madrid and almost in black and white. According to information gathered by ESPN, it was a done deal with the Spanish defender, but timing and paperwork issues got in the way of the final signature. Attempt to Bring in Sergio Ramos

Signing Sergio Ramos wasn't some sort of spur-of-the-moment thing; it was part of a well-thought-out strategy by Corinthians that almost materialized. Following his season with Sevilla, Ramos was on the market, and Corinthians noticed something special. In fact, the management prepared to fly to Spain on no less than two occasions to finalize the deal.

 Advanced talks have been made mainly through calls and messages in cautious optimism. Memphis Depay was important to make that link; he was an ambassador of his club. If someone hurried up the process of things with Ramos, it would have been Depay. Recently at Corinthians, Depay has shown that he respects the weight of the shirt and seems committed to raising the level of the club. He used his personal experience and knowledge of the Corinthians surroundings to try to persuade Ramos, showing the Spanish defender what it feels like to work in an atmosphere of ambition and professionalism.

This was seen as a big bonus for the club as Depay helped build confidence and built an immediate bridge with Ramos, who was getting seriously tantalized by the idea of ending his career in a completely different environment. However, despite all good intentions and openness in communication, the complex situation of demand on the contracts and timing of the registrations blocked up the whole deal.

Time Was the Enemy

Corinthians had everything allegedly aligned- a company that would take care of Ramos' salaries, meaning the financial issue in the transaction was more or less feasible. However, at that juncture, time became Timão's greatest enemy. The registration deadline for the CONMEBOL Sudamericana Round of 16 and the Copa do Brasil was about to expire, and the fiddly deal meant registering the player on time was impossible.

This deadline issue just goes to prove how confusing the high level of transfer markets can get, where negotiations that are considered a given break down in days. In the case of Ramos, time didn't play in Corinthians' favor; they saw how the possibility of having one of the most renowned defenders of his generation slipped away. The Current Condition of Sergio Ramos and His Future Possibilities

Sergio Ramos is still in the market and very keen to negotiate. He looked upon him as a big asset, and even at 38, his physical conditioning and commitment make him attractive to clubs worldwide. His international experience, together with all his years of success with Real Madrid and the Spanish national team, combines this into one highly sought-after player for any team looking for defensive stability and leadership.