On Those Ramires Quotes

I'm not entirely sure why Ramires is being asked about a potential return to Cruzeiro, because he's not in the Brazil squad that lost to Argentina and so presumably not a particular target for the media right now, but these quotes are flying around the Twittersphere and should probably be addressed. When asked if he'd like to come back to Brazil, Ramires apparently said something along the lines of...

I hope for that, that Cruzeiro would come now and make an offer... But, it's difficult because the value is very high. However, if they came up with the money, I would return. I was happy there, I always say I would return because they were the side that gave me an opportunity and launched me to the world. At the time when they shouted "Ramires warrior," I would shudder. Sometimes I put on the internet to watch the games and I remember them singing my name after the goals.

-Source: Sambafoot.

Should we be worried? No. Cruzeiro certainly can't afford one of Chelsea's top players, and they won't be able to do so for some time (although if they did, they'd almost certainly give him higher wages than Chelsea are right now). He's going nowhere for the immediate future, having signed a long-term contract all of six months ago.

Should we be offended? That's a difficult question. I remember being annoyed by remarks from Fernando Torres* immediately after the Champions League final, and the fact that I'm not particularly concerned by these is troubling me, like I'm biased towards players who I like having on the team and against ones I don't. Hey, a tautology! But, no, I'm not upset. Ramires has always answered questions about Cruzeiro in this sort of vein (I think this is the third time I've seen these sorts of quotes during his two years with us), and he was speaking entirely in the hypothetical.

*This is not an invitation to talk about Fernando Torres. Do not talk about Fernando Torres.

If they had the money to buy there, I'd love to go? Sure, that's reasonable. The fact that he's committed his long-term future to Chelsea, the fact that he's been so good and worked so hard for the club kind of gives you the impression that he's not desirous of a move away from Stamford Bridge. He just wants to go home some day. Seems perfectly reasonable to me.