Sergio Ramos Is ‘Serious’ About Music, Recruits A-Team to Release Debut Single ‘Cibeles’: ‘Music Is in My Blood’

After exiting Real Madrid in 2021 — spending a remarkable 16 years with the Spanish club — Sergio Ramos spent the next two years hunkered down writing and producing music. It was then that “Cibeles” was born — an ultra personal song, a love track at its core, about his bittersweet departure from the Spanish soccer team after 16 seasons and 22 titles.

“I hope you do well, although without you I feel bad,” the 39-year-old soccer star sings evocatively over an Afrobeat-tinged rhythm.

“It’s very emotional, sentimental, it’s a love story, about everything I’ve experienced over many years with the best team in the world, and well, it tells a little bit about how I felt at that moment,” Ramos tells Billboard over Zoom, just days after releasing the Ovy on the Drums and Yeray Music-produced single.

In addition to being a global fútbol icon, who won the 2010 World Cup with Spain, this isn’t Romas’ first foray in music. In fact, he has previously collaborated with Niña Pastori and Los Yakis, releasing at least five collaborations over the past 10 years. But “Cibeles” marks a new era for Ramos, who today plays for the Mexican team Rayados de Monterrey.

His debut solo single is the first of several songs Ramos has penned in a notebook he’s kept for nearly 12 years, he says. And it’s the beginning of a new era in his music career, a more “serious” one, he explains. Which is why he’s recruited an A-team, including renowned producers like Ovy on the Drums, creative agency Little Spain and Bad Bunny’s record label, Rimas Entertainment.

“When I don’t know something, I like to learn from the best,” he says about the team he assembled to help launch his music career. “After doing a little market research and being lucky enough to meet most of the artists I admire, I realized they were the best people to accompany me on this adventure, and show that we are entering a new industry in a serious way.”

Below, Ramos talks passionately about music being in his blood, why he’s “not doing this on a whim,” and dreams of touring in the future.

Although “Cibeles” came out a few days ago, I imagine you’re still processing the release of such a personal song.

I’m personally very excited about the worldwide response to the song, and very happy that people can connect with it. Despite having collaborated with other artists years ago, this is my first personal venture. I composed “Cibeles” when I left Real Madrid four years ago, and well, it’s very emotional, sentimental, it’s a love story, about everything I’ve experienced over many years with the best team in the world. It tells a little bit about how I felt at that moment and, well, it infects people with that emotion, even though it has been a story of love and pain with such strong feelings. I am still digesting the impact it has had.

What was writing “Cibeles” like for you and do you write often?

I have a notebook that I’ve been using for almost 12 years to write down thoughts, experiences, ideas — and I have many things that, God willing, will come out in the future. I also started working with Yeray Music, my producer in Madrid, who was locked up with me for the last two years in Sevilla and Madrid making new beats, different styles but all modern music, which is where we want to go.

A couple months ago, Ovy on the Drums, with whom I have a very good relationship, was in Madrid and I showed him what we had recorded. He took it from there, and added his signature style that he has developed over so many years in music. Everything that Yeray and I worked on, and then with Ovy, is what makes the production so complete, balanced, and on par with the songs that are successful today. “Cibeles” has a very special story behind it. I wanted it to be the first song I debuted as a solo artist. Every three or four months I’ll be releasing a song so that the transition isn’t so sudden. That’s what people will appreciate, that I’ve had music in my blood since I was little, it’s been with me.

What was that collaboration with Ovy on the Drums like?

We showed him the song practically as we had it, with a very defined base. I came to Mexico to play seven months ago, which is when Ovy took the song and worked on it remotely — but we were constantly on Zoom or WhatsApp. He was telling me what he liked, what he didn’t, where he wanted to take it and where he didn’t. I wanted to distance myself a little from our roots, not so traditional, and for the song to sound more to what Latin music sounds like today. I have another song called “Raíces” that has a flamenco touch that will come out later.

You assembled a great team for this first solo single: Ovy on the Drums, Little Spain for the music video and Rimas as your label, in partnership with your own label SR93. Talk to me about that.

When I don’t know something, I like to learn from the best. After doing a little market research and being lucky enough to meet most of the artists I admire, I asked those who are involved in this style of music a few questions. I realized they were the best and most suitable people to accompany me on this adventure, and show that we are entering a new industry in a serious way. That combination of elements is what makes you stand out, and that has led to the acceptance of the song and its worldwide impact.

Was there anything you’ve applied in soccer that you apply to music today?

People who succeed don’t do so by chance; it’s a matter of attitude and, above all, discipline. In soccer, where I’ve been at the highest level for 22 years, you’re constantly in hotels, on planes, away from home — and when you have children, your head is spinning and you want to spend more time with your kids who are growing up. Music allows me to have a studio at home in Sevilla and Madrid, and while my kids are at school in the morning, I can be making music, recording, and in the afternoon I can spend time with them. That’s what I’ve been able to do in recent months, learning to play the piano and guitar, enjoy my family, my profession and make music. I have a more balanced life.

What does music mean to you?

Andalusians — I’m from Sevilla in the south — have grown up surrounded by family celebrations that include singing. It’s something we’ve been doing since we were born. At our gatherings with family and friends, we always end dinner in the same way. Then, once I moved to Madrid, I got to meet all my music idols and some very influential people: Alejandro Sanz, Niña Pastori, Luis Fonsi, Manuel Carrasco — artists I’ve listened to all my life and, because I lived in Madrid, it allowed me to share moments in the studio with them.

Music has accompanied me throughout my life, and being a soccer player is a very lonely life in certain ways — and in those moments there are many experiences, emotions and feelings, and I always liked to write and have been saving songs for a long time. People have been very surprised by this side of me. They say, “You have a knack for [writing].” At the end of the day, when you’ve been doing something for a long time, it’s much easier for things to flow and come out naturally. I’m not doing this on a whim; I’m serious about it, and I’m working with the best to try to make something big in music. I’ve always been very optimistic but also very disciplined. I believe in myself a lot, I’m very confident, and I think what we’re going to do will reach the highest level.

So there’s more music coming, perhaps a new album. Is touring something you think about?

The tour is something I hadn’t considered, but now that I’m at this point, I think it can be done in the future. Everything has a process, we have to go step by step. Now it’s a matter of people listening and seeing the level we’re bringing, and while I play soccer, it’s about releasing songs, and the day I retire…

Actually, I haven’t mentioned this before: I was at a point where I didn’t have a team, and I was at home making music, doing music camps, and writing a lot. I wrote a song called “Adiós,” like goodbye and “a Dios” for the day I retire. I’ve always said that I want to keep playing for another year or two. The day I retire, I’ll release that song and maybe an album. Depending on how well it’s received, I’ll consider a tour. I dream of filling the Bernabéu, hoping to return to the best soccer stadium someday.

Is there anything you want people to know about this new era in your life?

I make music because I have feelings to express, things I carry inside that I want to get it out somehow. We are used to criticism from people, which is very respectable; it makes you better, it guides you at certain times, but no one is going to change my goal and my dreams. Life is for living and enjoying. I have done that with soccer for many years and now I want to do it with music.