Sergio Ramos has told Real Madrid he wants to leave and join Manchester United, who are thought to have made a firm bid for his signature.
The Spanish defender has been at the Bernabeu since 2005, and has played an important role in their three league title successes, two Copa del Rey triumphs and their UEFA Champions League glory in 2014. However, he is now in the final two years of his contract in the capital, and after talks over a new deal reached a stalemate, he is prepared to leave the club this summer.
Louis van Gaal has identified the 29-year-old as the man to inject some steel and leadership into his back four at Old Trafford, and Sky Sports claim an offer of £28.6million has been tabled for his signature. And further to this, journalist and La Liga expert Graham Hunter has told the broadcasting giants that the former Sevilla star is determined to leave Real and join the Reds.
“Ramos has told Madrid directly that he is absolutely and completely committed to leaving the club, that he specifically wants them to begin negotiations with Manchester United and that he doesn’t want them to negotiate with anybody except Manchester United,” Hunter told Sky. “Real can be under no illusions that Ramos wants to go to United and he expects them to comply.
“He feels slighted by the renegotiation of other players’ contracts when this new contract will be the high point of what remains of his career. Ramos is a bold and brave footballer and that is echoed in his character. He believes the bid matches his current value. He looks at the project to rebuild Manchester United, to make it great again, and he wants to be part of it.”
Just as United are eager to get a huge fee from Real if they concede defeat in their efforts to keep goalkeeper David de Gea from the Spanish giants, Los Blancos will not be willing to let Ramos leave without a fee. The defender has a buyout clause of around £150million in his current deal, and whilst they could be prepared to negotiate on this, it would still be a high price.
