Open Thread: February 5, 2021

The Open Thread/Daily Merengue is a place where you can discuss anything and everything related to football. Feel free to discuss the topics presented here, or start your very own discussions! The Open thread will be posted every day by one of the mods: Valyrian Steel, Felipejack, YoSnail or Oscnar.

Real Madrid have set a deadline for Ramos.

As per ABC Deportes Real Madrid have set a deadline regarding the Sergio Ramos soap-opera. By March the club wants to know if Ramos accepts the club’s renewal offer of 2 years with 10% reduced salary. If he doesn’t accept the club will accept his departure. Real Madrid have been negotiating wage cuts on an individual basis, with Luka Modric reportedly accepting one in order to renew as his deal was also expiring. Ramos and Lucas Vazquez, meanwhile, have not accepted the terms.

Florentino Perez to stand in the club’s upcoming elections.

Another report from ABC Deportes indicates that Florentino Perez has decided to stand in the club’s upcoming elections - he wants to be the president of Real Madrid until 2025. He is likely to face a challenge from Vicente Boluda, Real Madrid’s former interim president. Boluda took charge in the 2008-09 season following the resignation of former president Ramon Calderon and was in the top job until Perez returned unchallenged for a second spell in the summer of 2009.

“Florentino’s administration has been amazing,” the businessman told Radio MARCA. “If I say it has been bad, people will call me crazy, but I would like to be president of Real Madrid again.” There is currently no fixed date set for elections.

‘Most referees are from Madrid’ - Barca defender Pique.

Gerard Pique thinks referees in La Liga favour Real Madrid, however professional they might be. Accusations of favouritism from officials are nothing new in the Clasico rivalry, and Pique himself has complained about it in the past. “The other day a former referee said that 85 per cent of the referees are from Madrid,” Pique said in an interview with Post United.

“How are they not going to whistle in favour of Madrid? Even unconsciously, how are they not going to give more for one side than the other?? I respect the professionalism of the referees and I know they try to do their best job, but when a moment of doubt comes…”

So far this season, Madrid and Barca have near-identical disciplinary records in the league, with both teams receiving 36 yellow cards and Madrid seeing one red.

MARCA: Messi, the key to Mbappe!!

PSG appear to be openly flirting with the idea of Messi joining them with Barca coach Ronald Koeman expressing his displeasure at Angel Di Maria’s comments. “Yes, for me, it’s a lack of respect. It’s not respectful to speak so much about a player that is still a Barça player.

“It’s not good. It’s a mistake to say something like that, it could add further spice to the Champions League game. It’s not fair. It’s not respectful towards Barça to talk about one of put players like that. “[PSG] talk about Leo too much. He plays for Barça and, in addition, we have a two-legged tie against them coming up.”

DI Maria had earlier stated in an interview “I hope to renew with PSG, I am happy here. Yes, I hope (to play with Messi), I think there’s a big chance of it. I have to be calm, think about myself and stay in Paris because I’m very happy here.”

Marca meanwhile have made their own connection proclaiming that Messi is the key to Mbappe. “Leo to PSG is Kylian’s way out. Madrid are waiting for the Messi’s decision as PSG are open to selling Kylian, who dreams of wearing white one day!”.

ICYMI: Churros y Tácticas Podcast: Real Madrid vs Barcelona’s future.

Kiyan Sobhani and Diego Lorijn covered a range of topics in this podcast from Pedri / Andres Iniesta parallels to David Alaba vs Jules Kounde vs Dayot Upamecano. Give it a listen.