Sergio Ramos breaks rules so he can wear number 93. But why that number after all?

Former Real Madrid and Spain defender Sergio Ramos signed a one-year contract with the Mexican side Monterrey and did it in his own way.

The 38-year-old Ramos was a free agent since leaving boyhood side Sevilla when his contract expired at the end of the 2023-24 campaign.

Ramos' deal with Monterrey should last until the end of 2005, but the club inserted a clause allowing the cooperation to be extended for another 12 months. The Spaniard will earn 4,000,000 euros annually, but his signing was delayed for a few days because of a bizarre reason - the shirt number!?

Until today, players in the Mexican top division could wear only numbers between 1 and 35, but the Spanish defender insisted that they break a rule and allow him to wear 93. And the approval came. But why exactly 93?

During his time with Real Madrid, Ramos lifted 22 trophies, including five La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues. One of those UCL crowns, from 2014, has a special place in Ramos' heart. In that showdown, against Atletico Madrid, he scored a crucial header to tie the game at one in the injury time (93rd minute). The game went to extra-time and Los Blancos celebrated a victory after a penalty shootout.

Ramos started his career with Sevilla but left for Real Madrid in 2005 and spent 16 years at the Bernabeu.