Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos has pulled out of Spain’s squad for the forthcoming Euro 2016 qualifiers through calf injury.
The veteran centre-back sustained the injury in the first-half of his club’s 5-0 thrashing of Athletic Bilbao in a Week 7 La Liga clash on Sunday.
The two-time defending European champions have named Barcelona’s Marc Bartra as the 28-year-old’s replacement.
“Scans revealed a right calf muscle injury,” read a statement from the Spanish national coaching staff. “Marc Bartra will join the squad on Monday evening.”
Ramos has been capped 122 times on international stages and was a member of ‘La Roja’ generation which won back-to-back European championships and the 2010 World Cup before watching their 8-year reign at the top of world football end at this year’s World Cup.
Coach Vicente del Bosque’s side play Slovakia away on Thursday and then Luxembourg also away on Sunday.
