Middlesbrough: Cold weather and style of play led to former Boro man's exit

The Uruguayan infuriated Boro fans, coaching staff and team-mates in January when he angled for a moved to Leicester City, even handing in a transfer request to try to force through a deal.

Middlesbrough stood firm and resisted offers for him before he was handed a reprieve under caretaker boss Steve Agnew, but his below-par performances piled on the frustration during the unsuccessful battle to stay up.

There did seem a glimmer of hope for him at the Riverside Stadium when Garry Monk handed him a couple of opportunities during pre-season.

But Monk was happy for him to leave before the start of the campaign and the former Bologna playmaker secured a £9m switch back to Italy with Sampdoria.

Asked about the change of temperature he has experienced over the last few weeks, the 26-year-old said: "The climate? Here it is fine, but I felt warm there 15 days a year.”

Ramirez moved to Middlesbrough initially on loan from Southampton in January last year before finally completing a drawn out permanent transfer – strangely from Penarol where he had previously signed a pre-contract agreement without the Teessiders knowing – that summer.

He struggled to really hit the heights he was capable of in the Premier League at Middlesbrough, and that was the story of his time in England. He had also struggled to impress at Southampton after his £12m switch from Bologna in 2012.

There was a period where he was unsuccessful in trying to keep Hull City in the top-flight and that was what led to him moving to Middlesbrough when he did. Having returned to Italy he has started promisingly during victories over Benevento and Fiorentina.

Ramirez, speaking to Il Secolo XIX, said: "Sometimes I did not have continuity. When you do not play, it's difficult to show how much you are (trying).

"In Premier League football it is very physical and maybe I did not find the right team for my game. However, I still grew up as a football player (at Boro). Now I'm here to show how good I am.”

He added: “I'm fine here, better than I expected. When you go to a new place you cannot imagine what you will find. I have truly found a spectacular group that has greeted me well.

"I hope to regain (my place in the national squad). I would be lying if I did not say that was my goal, as well as playing at the World Cup. But only hard work can help me reach it.”

While Ramirez is focused on life away from the Riverside, Middlesbrough’s players have turned their attention to this Saturday’s trip to Bolton.

Monk’s men have struggled to find top gear so far under a new system deployed by Monk and the hope is that another couple of weeks on the training ground will have helped things.

Middlesbrough, who have won two of their opening five league games and both have been at home, have added defender Ryan Shotton and winger Marvin Johnson to the squad since the goalless draw with Preston on August 26.

Shotton has an outside chance of starting against Bolton, although young centre-back Dael Fry has returned from international duty in a better shape of fitness than had been expected.

Fry was left out of Tuesday’s European Under-21s qualifier with Latvia, which finished 3-0, because of a knock he sustained to his ankle last Friday when he earned his first cap in the 1-1 draw with Holland.

It is not deemed to be serious and he will be doing everything he can to stay in the Middlesbrough team which faces Bolton having started five of the first six matches under Monk. He does have competition from Shotton, a £2.5m buy from Birmingham, and Daniel Ayala.

Middlesbrough’s £9m striker Martin Braithwaite was expected back from a hamstring injury after this international break, although Monk will be keen to tread carefully with the former Toulouse man to ensure there is no recurrence.

The Middlesbrough boss is expected to provide an update on Braithwaite’s fitness during this afternoon’s pre-match press conference at Rockliffe Park.