MADRID, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos abandoned the Spanish national team squad on Friday as the result of a back problem.

The central defender will now return to Madrid where he will begin treatment on the injury with his club.

Ramos played the first 45 minutes of Spain's 1-1 draw away to Italy on Thursday night but the injury forced him out of the game at half time and he was replaced by Real Madrid team-mate Nacho Fernandez.

Fernandez or Barcelona's Marc Bartra now have the chance of starting when Spain play Romania in Cluj on Sunday.

Real Madrid's next league game is the 'Clasico' away to FC Barcelona in the Camp Nou Stadium a week on Saturday.