We have read a lot of statements from players since yesterday's Champions League round-of-16 draw, but not one of them has attracted as many reactions as that of Sergio Ramos.

The legendary Spanish defender is among the few players who will be playing against their former team after his current club, Paris Saint-Germain, was drawn against his previous club, Real Madrid.

Immediately after the draw, Sergio Ramos was reported by Spanish sports news platform, Marca, to have pledged his allegiance to Paris Saint-Germain against Real Madrid.

While he admitted that he had mixed feelings about returning to the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium with his Paris Saint-Germain teammates, he vowed to do everything possible to ensure his current club progresses to the quarter-finals including dying for them. 

Sergio Ramos' allegiance to Paris Saint-Germain will no doubt anger some section of the Real Madrid fan base, who were probably expecting a bit of loyalty from the 35 years old defender after the 16 trophy-laden seasons he spent at their club.

Ramos's lack of loyalty to Real Madrid has also resurrected a vow made by Andres Iniesta to Barcelona fans in 2018.

Ahead of his 2018 exit from Barcelona after 20 trophy-laden years at the club, a then tearful Andres Iniesta vowed never to play against Barcelona. 

He explained to fans, in a lengthy final press conference, that there are many offers for him to join other clubs in Europe's top league, but he rejected them so as not to compete against Barcelona.

Andres Iniesta went on to join Vissel Kobe, a club that competes in the top tier of Japan's football league system.

Andres Iniesta's decision show his level of loyalty to the Barcelona fan base, unlike Sergio Ramos who did not just join one of Real Madrid's Champions League rivals, but has also vowed to eliminate them from the competition.

One could be tempted to criticize Ramos for his lack of loyalty to Real Madrid, but it is worth noting that he is not a graduate of their academy. He was bought to improve their defence, and he did that job very well in his 16 years at the club.

Iniesta, on the other hand, joined the Barcelona academy from a very young age. We should, therefore, expect a higher level of loyalty from him.