Juan Mata names surprise defender along with Sergio Ramos and Fernando Torres while picking most professional Spain players in training
Former Spain international Juan Mata has named Sergio Ramos and two others as the most professional players in Spain's all-conquering team of the early 2010s. La Roja were once the most dominant force in world football, winning every trophy in front of them for a four-year spell.
Mata enjoyed a fruitful spell with the national team, coming in as part of a squad refresh just after they had won Euro 2008. He was part of the team that won the FIFA World Cup in 2010 and also scored in their Euro 2012 final win against Italy.
Juan Mata was recently a guest on the Euro 2024 Legends Lounge with Rio Ferdinand as their countries prepare to face each other in the final. He named the trio of Sergio Ramos, Fernando Torres, and Alvaro Arbeloa as the most professional players in training at the time, saying:
“Sergio Ramos [was the player who was best in training in that Spain team]. [He] was always at a very high level, even with recovery after the game, he was professional.
“Fernando Torres also [was very professional], Alvaro Arbeloa too. Nobody was one of these players who don’t like to train. Everyone was kind of tuned [in that manner]. All of us enjoyed training and playing together so much, that we always wanted to be there.”
Mata and Ramos are currently free agents, having left Vissel Kobe and Sevilla, respectively, at the end of their contracts this year. Torres works as a coach in the Atletico Madrid youth set-up, and Arbeloa does the same at his former club, Real Madrid.
Spain's legends will be keeping a close eye on proceedings in Sunday's (July 14) Euro 2024 final as they hope for their country to claim the title. They have become the first team to win six successive games in the tournament and look good for a first title since 2012.
Spain legend Sergio Ramos keen on Saudi switch - Reports
Legendary Spanish defender Sergio Ramos is reportedly interested in moving to Saudi Arabia for the next stage of his career after leaving Sevilla. The Spaniard played for just one season in La Liga after joining from Paris Saint-Germain before leaving after his contract expired this summer.
Ramos is on the radar of MLS expansion side San Diego FC, with an offer already in place for him to join them in 2025, as per Relevo. The same source revealed that the 38-year-old is waiting for an offer from Saudi Arabia before potentially moving to the USA.
Sergio Ramos has seen many of his former Real Madrid teammates move to the oil-rich Middle East nation in recent years, possibly contributing to his willingness to move there. The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Nacho Fernandez are contracted to clubs in Saudi, and a reunion with Ramos is possible.