Ramos sympathy for axed duo

Spain’s Sergio Ramos has offered his support to dropped international team-mates Fernando Torres and Raul Albiol.

Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque excluded Torres and Albiol from the squad to play Venezuela in an international friendly on Wednesday.

Torres has struggled since his big-money move to Chelsea last January and has only scored two English Premier League goals all season, while Raul Albiol has had to settle for a place on Real Madrid’s bench for much of the campaign.

Real man Ramos has been selected and looks set to win his 83rd international cap.

The defender offered a few words of comfort to his two friends on Twitter.

“In the bad moments hardly anyone is there (for you), only those who are pure and true. A big, big hug and lots of support for (Fernando) Torres and Raul Albiol,” he tweeted.

The big news apart from Torres’ exclusion in the Spain squad is the call-up of Athletic Bilbao’s exciting forward Iker Muniain, who looks set to make his debut for the reigning world and European champions.