Ramires retires from football

Chelsea hero Ramires has announced his retirement from professional football.

The 35-year-old Brazilian has been without a club since November 2020 when he left Palmeiras by mutual consent.

Ramires reached a cult hero status at Stamford Bridge, and would forever be remembered for his match-winning goal in the 2012 Champions League semi-final clash against Barcelona.

Ramires spent nearly six years at Chelsea after signing for Chelsea in January 2010.

The Brazilian made 251 appearances in a Chelsea shirt, scoring 34 times.

“After some deep reflection on my part, I decided to inform you all that I’ve decided that my professional career will come to an end,” Ramires wrote on Instagram.

“All I have left now is to first thank God for enabling me to having had as high of a performance as it can be have in our beloved sport.

“Thank you very much also to all the clubs I’ve passed: Palmeiras, Benfica, Chelsea, Cruzeiro, Jiangsu and Joinville Esporte Clube.

“I will always carry you and your fans in my heart. Gratitude also to the Brazilian National Football Team who provided me the pleasure of playing in two World Cups, which was the realisation of a dream.

“I am thankful also to all the teammates, staff, coaches and managers that I had the pleasure of working with. To my relatives, mother, children, brothers and true friends, thank you so much for being by my side unconditionally all these years, vibrating for each achievement of mine as if it were yours, which has always been my greatest strength and motivation,’ the post continues.

“I’m going to go in other directions, but with the same happiness and courage I’ve had since I was a child, when, against all expectations, I left my city in the interior of Rio de Janeiro to win the world.

“Thanks for everything, football!”