Ramires, Chelsea Agree to New Contract: Latest Details and Reaction
Chelsea midfielder Ramires has agreed to a new four-year contract with the Blues, ensuring the Brazilian utility man will stay in west London for the foreseeable future.
The champions confirmed the extension on their Twitter feed on Thursday:
TOP NEWS
Madrid Fines Players $590K 😲
'Mbappé Out' Petition Gaining Steam 😳
Star-Studded World Cup Ad 🤩
In a piece on the club's official website, the industrious midfielder expressed his delight at signing a new deal: "My family and I are very happy here in London and in the past five years the club has lifted every major trophy. I hope to be an important part of many more successes in the next four years."
The 28-year-old has mainly been used as a substitute and depth option in the 2015-16 season but remains a favourite of manager Jose Mourinho due to his versatility and high work rate.
Ramires has never been a volume scorer or a fantastic creative force, but he's a willing tackler who tracks the ball well and lessens the pressure on his team-mates. With the Brazilian taking care of his defensive duties, the likes of Oscar and Eden Hazard can instead focus on contributing further up the pitch.
WhoScored.com outlines the defensive contribution he has regularly made for the Blues when it comes to Champions League clashes down the years:
On top of that, Ramires seems to reserve his goals for when they're needed the most, like his equaliser against Newcastle United in September or his infamous lob at the Camp Nou against Barcelona during the 2011-12 season, a goal that made him an incredibly popular figure among the Chelsea faithful:
Chelsea supporter and journalist Jake Cohen is pleased to see the club ensure Ramires will be around for a while yet:
With the 2015-16 campaign not starting according to plan for the Blues, some positivity is needed. A contract extension for Ramires, who is more of a loyal servant than an actual superstar, achieves just that.
It also ensures he won't be leaving for a foreign adventure anytime soon, with Italian champions Juventus reportedly interested in his services, according to the London Evening Standard's Simon Johnson.
