Sergio Ramos has Real Madrid fans wondering if he could make a shock return after Eder Militao's likely season-ending ACL injury.
The Los Blancos legend posted a video of a lung-busting workout on Instagram, running uphill on a farm and claiming to be 'feeling strong'.
Ramos, 38, left Sevilla after one season over the summer and is looking to extend his mind-boggling career, having reportedly held talks with multiple sides.
Madrid have a crisis at the back after Militao suffered a devastating rupture in his right knee during their 4-0 hammering of Osasuna on Saturday. Dani Carvajal, who came fourth in the Ballon d'Or vote, is already out for the season with the same misfortune. David Alaba suffered the same fate last December and may only return in the New Year.
It is heartbreaking for Militao, who also missed most of last campaign an anterior cruciate ligament tear in his left knee, and a serious problem for Carlo Ancelotti. The Br azilian defender will be operated on in the coming days, as Madrid confirmed.
Hence the excitement for fans seeing Ramos share his latest video, which showed him with a rippling physique despite not being signed to a side.
He also posted his condolences to his former team-mate on X, writing: "Strength, Mili. You know the way back, you've done it once and you're going to do it again."
The Spaniard left Madrid after 16 seasons in 2021 having won five LaLiga and four Champions League titles.
He initially went to Paris Saint-Germain for two seasons before returning to boyhood club Sevilla last campaign.
"Ready to go back home," wrote one fan in the comments section on Instagram.
"lz go Real Madrid we don't have defenders everyone is injured," said another.
"We need you capitano," another wrote.
"Back to Real Madrid button," one said, getting over 2,500 likes.
Other supporters even tagged Real Madrid in the comments in a desperate bid to try and thrash out a profitable deal themselves.
The capital city giants have had a reasonable season in LaLiga but are still six points adrift of pacesetters Barcelona, who have won 11 of them 12 league games under Hansi Flick.
Their Champions League form has been uncharacteristic, as the kings of Europe are in the bottom half of the table after two wins and two defeats.
Their losses to Lille and AC Milan see them sitting below comparative minnows such as Brest, Celtic, and Dinamo Zagreb.
But after they were dismantled by Milan in midweek, Ancelotti's side took out their frustrations with a home lashing of Osasuna, with Vinicius Junior scoring a hat-trick and Jude Bellingham getting back on the scoresheet.