Sergio Ramos, a Real Madrid great, and Dundee star Fin Robertson trained together in Mexico. Sergio Ramos, former Spain and Real Madrid superstar, is hard to beat as an up-close role model.

The 39-year-old has won four Champions Leagues, five La Ligas, two Ligue 1 crowns, two European Championships, and a World Cup.

Ramos, who now plays for Mexican club Monterrey, led Rayados in the Club World Cup this summer, but they were eliminated in the round of 16 by Borussia Dortmund.

That came after draws against Champions League runners-up Inter, Argentine giants River Plate, and a 4-0 victory over Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds.

Fin Robertson from Dundee joined Monterrey for two weeks of training ahead of the tournament.

‘Hardest trainer I’ve ever seen’

A bizarre experience, the 22-year-old Dundonian was resolved to make the most of the fortnight by learning as much as he could from Ramos, ex-Real Madrid midfielder Sergio Canales, and former Sevilla player Lucas Ocampos. “This is almost too good to be true.

“You don’t really think about it until after you get home,” Robertson told Courier Sport. “It was sort of mental. “I couldn’t believe how disciplined Sergio Ramos was despite his age. I’ve never seen a harder trainer.

“Seeing that up close demonstrated what you needed to do to get to the next level. That was great. “He was not the only one. Sergio Canales simply made the game appear slow.

“He played at his own pace; it was impossible to get close him in practice. “I don’t think he dropped the ball once in the two weeks I was there!

“It’s beneficial to compare yourself to that and understand where you need to improve. “It’s an entirely different kind of football.

I’d say slower but faster at the same time. “Obviously, you have to adjust to the heat and the way they drop into position behind the ball when they don’t have it instead of chasing things down. “It was good for me to take bits from their game and bring it to my own.”

Why was Fin Robertson with Monterrey?

Dundee and Monterrey formed a strategic relationship last November. Players such as Cesar Garza and Chespi have been loaned to Dundee, and three more Rayados prospects trained with the Dark Blues this summer, appearing in a friendly win over Brechin City on Saturday.

While visiting Scotland to check on Garza and Chespi, Monterrey authorities observed Robertson during Dundee training and encouraged him to train in Mexico. That meant giving up his summer vacation. However, Robertson was unconcerned as he aimed to play a significant role in Dundee’s upcoming season. “Football is my life.” “I want to give myself the best chance at having the best career possible,” he said.

“I believe that coming over there for training, rather than being on a beach, is something you must agree to. “Over there, their mentality and their work ethic, it’s kind of like you’re looked down upon if you weren’t in the gym before training and after training because that’s just normal over there.

” He said, “I tried to watch them in the Club World Cup, but the games were on at two a.m., so it was difficult for me to watch.” “I was constantly checking at the highlights and comparing them to Inter. There wasn’t much to it.

“It was weird to see the people I’d trained with on TV, competing at the highest level of world football. “It was fantastic. I’m quite grateful to have had that experience.

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