Prem and Champions League winner unrecognisable eight years after China move – Footymercato.com

Ramires claimed Premier League and Champions League glory whilst at Chelsea, but few would now recognise the Brazilian.

The midfielder was signed from Benfica in 2010 and spent six years at Stamford Bridge, claiming five honours during that time. Like several players he opted to make a lucrative move to China, signing for Jiangsu Suning in a £25million deal.

The Brazilian, who won 52 caps for his country, spent three years at the Chinese outfit before opting to finish his career in his homeland with Palmeiras. A photo of Ramires has gone on social media with the retired star now sporting hair and showing off his tattoos, which were rarely on show.

Plenty who frequented Stamford Bridge may struggle to recognise the midfielder, who enjoyed some iconic moments for the Blues. Perhaps his most defining moment was a goal in the Champions League semi-final against Barcelona, en route to their European success over Bayern Munich.

The Brazilian chipped Victor Valdes at the Nou Camp to inspire Chelsea’s comeback in the second-leg before they went on to claim the trophy on penalties. Three years later and Ramires was a Premier League winner after Jose Mourinho returned to guide the team to success.

He also won the Europa League and the League Cup during his time in west London. Once he returned to Brazil he claimed numerous honours, including the Copa Libertadores, which he won in 2020 as Palmeiras beat Santos in the final.

Ramires has previously defended his decision to move to China with many suggesting those who opted for a move to Asia did so because of the financial benefits. “I see a lot of people saying that I came to China just for the money, but that’s not true,” he said previously.

“If you look at the situation I was going through at Chelsea at the time of the transfer you will see that I was Hiddink’s last option in my position and this was frustrating me a lot. The situation was only getting worse and at that moment came the interest of the Chinese club.

“Jiangsu introduced me to a long-term project where I would be a key player, they offered me everything I could think of and more, and I decided together with my agent and family that this would be the best decision.

“The money issue weighed on the decision, I put it on the scale that I am already 29 years old and that an irrefutable opportunity like this may never come again. But the way things were happening at Chelsea was the main reason.”

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