Jose Mourinho ‘has a very high level of marketing’, says Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos

Ramos played under Mourinho at Real Madrid, where together they won La Liga in 2011-12 with a record haul of 100 points, but their relationship was one of many which strained

Sergio Ramos did not want to discuss Jose Mourinho (EPA)

Jose Mourinho has a “very high level of marketing”, Sergio Ramos has said, as the Real Madrid captain refused to discuss the sacked Manchester United manager.

Ramos played under Mourinho at Real Madrid where together they won La Liga in 2011-12 with a record haul of 100 points, but their relationship was one of many which strained during the Portuguese’s tenure at the Bernabeu.

Ramos infamously wore Mesut Ozil’s shirt under his own during the second half of a match, in solidarity with his German team-mate after Mourinho had substituted him at half-time and called him a “coward”.

After being sacked by Manchester United on Tuesday morning following a 3-1 defeat at Anfield which left the club 11 points off the top four and 19 points off the leaders Liverpool, Mourinho has been linked with a potential return to Real Madrid.

Asked about the possibility of working Mourinho again, Ramos replied: “We have been five years without Mourinho and you [the media] are still talking about him. He is someone who has a very high level of marketing.”

Real Madrid are currently in the United Arab Emirates for the Club World Cup, and will meet UAE club Al Ain in Saturday’s final. Santiago Solari is the current manager after he was promoted from coaching youth team to replace Julen Lopetegui in October, and Ramos said it was disrespectful to discuss Mourinho.

“We have won everything and people still talk about him,” Ramos added. “Solari is here now and we must respect him.”