FIN ROBERTSON was starstruck training with Sergio Ramos for the first time.
But watching the Spanish megastar up close has given him a new perspective on being a footballer.
Finlay Robertson in action for Dundee against Rangers last season[/caption]
The Dundee midfielder has been training with the Dark Blues partner club CF Monterrey over the summer as part of their tie-up.
Robertson was paired with World Cup winner Ramos in the warm up ahead of his very first session.
And revealed the 39-year-old Real Madrid legend soon put him at ease.
Robertson said: “At the start of the year a few people came over from Monterrey to watch us train and they singled me out as someone they’d like to see more of.
“It’s been a bit surreal at times being on the same training pitch as big names who have done so much in the game.
“It’s great for your confidence knowing you can hold your own with them.
“It is a great experience, when I trained with Sergio Ramos it was a bit of a pinch me moment.
“In the first session I got put with him to warm up so was quite nervous, but he was speaking away to me asking where I was staying.
“His English is very good so he told me if I need anything to let him know. It really helped me settle.
“The thing that stands out is his workrate and how much it still means to him.
“Given what he’s achieved in the game, it would be easy to just throw it off and walk about.
“But he’s the opposite of that.
“The best thing I’ve learned is how you have to be on it all the time, be totally focused and be at the best standard you can be.
“Before training and after training they’re in the gym to be at their best.
“I do that anyway but to see that level of player come in early and leave late, leaving no stone unturned to be at their best shows you what you need to do.
“If players of that calibre do it to be the best, then you have to as well.
“It’s been great to see it with my own eyes.”
Robertson has spent a fortnight in Mexico but will now head back for pre-season with Steven Pressley’s side.
And after training in the heat and altitude with Domenec Torrent’s star-studded squad, the 22-year-old reckons he’ll be in peak shape to impress new Dens gaffer Steven Pressley next week.
Robertson said: “It’s really hot and we’re at altitude, so it’s been tough – I felt like there was a car on my chest when I was trying to run at first.
“But it will benefit me when I come back because I’ll be really fit.
“There’s a real contrast to training at home, we report for 0630 and are back home for 11.30.
“Training anywhere near midday is off-limits because of the temperatures.
“So you get a lot of time outside football.
“The training itself, the tempo and the way people go about things is more relaxed over here.
“I don’t really understand everything that’s being said – although I did a bit of Spanish at school – so it might be more intense than I think!
“The game is a bit slower because you have to maintain your energy.
“They don’t play any long balls, I’ve not seen a goalkeeper hit it out once, you always have to play out from the back.
“Everything is totally possession-based so it’s been great seeing their manager work, how he wants the game to be played.
“He explained it to me personally, which was cool.
“He told me I’ve done well and I have the quality to be here, which was really good to hear.
“Being over here will stand me in good stead to hit the ground running when I get back and impress the new manager.
“I’ve got loads of confidence from training over here and hopefully I can take that into games for Dundee this season.”
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