"El Confidencial" continues to reveal compromising information for Luis Rubiales, the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation. In a podcast entitled Pundonor Rubiales, the nickname with which Rubiales was known in his football stage, some messages are revealed between Sergio Ramos, then the captain of Real Madrid, and Rubiales, in which in July 2020 the center-back asks for Rubiales to use his influence within UEFA to help him win the Ballon d'Or.
In one of the WhatsApp sent to Rubiales, Ramos writes: "Rubi, good night. I hope you are well with the whole family. You know that I have never asked you for anything, but if I want to do it today it is because I think it is a special year for the performance I have given. I would like you to help me in any way you can and to touch some keys from UEFA and your contacts on the subject of the Ballon d'Or. I would be grateful to you all my life, not only for me but also because I believe that football Spanish deserves it very much. I send you a hug".
Rubiales' response was as follows: "Hello, Sergio. First of all, congratulations, I think it's a good year for you to achieve it. I hope you do a magnificent final role in the Champions League (in 2020, the first year of the pandemic the Champions ended in August). Of course, the Ballon d'Or doesn't depend on me, but as far as I can help you, count on it. A huge hug", answered Rubiales, according to José María Olmo, head of investigation of El Confidencial, in El Partidazo de COPE.
To which Sergio Ramos replied: "I know it doesn't depend on you, but relationships are also key. Infantino gives 'The Best' which is also super important and would be the hell of it. Anyway, I'm counting on your help. I'm sending you a hug and we'll see each other when you want one day and we'll eat".
Other conversations between the two, in the spring of 2018, revolved around the cousins of the World Cup in Russia. Ramos writes "Either you upload me in what we talk about the semis or let's go. And don't forget the Hublot watch. Let's see when they have it ready for us".
Rubiales' response was: "Sergio, I just landed, I'll tell you. Reaching half a kilo for finishing third is amazing. We can look for something in between in the semifinals and we'll close it now."
