Manchester United are launching an audacious bid to sign Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos after the experienced central defender let it be known that he is unhappy with his club’s ongoing failure to extend his current contract, which expires in 2017.
– #360Snapshot: Latest UAE sporting headlines
– On the radar: Dubai Sports World and more…
– Messi calls on Argentina to pick up pace ahead of Copa last-16 tie
Ramos, 29, has been negotiating with Bernabeu president Florentino Perez throughout much of the last year, but little progress has been made and the Spain international is now attempting to force the issue by suggesting he is open to the possibility of joining one of Los Blancos’ chief rivals.
Last week Barcelona presidential candidate Jordi Majo claimed he has been offered the opportunity to sign Ramos if he wins this summer’s election.
I rarely ever allow myself to get excited about reckless transfer chatter, but the idea of Sergio Ramos in the Premier League has me giddy.
— Zack Goldman (@ThatDamnYank) June 22, 2015
And reports emerged last night that Ramos would consider joining United as part of the imminent deal which will bring goalkeeper David De Gea from Old Trafford to the Bernabeu.
Although Valencia’s Argentine international Nicolas Otamendi has been their chief central-defensive target so far this summer, United officials now believe they have a genuine chance of signing Ramos, who has spent the last 10 seasons in Madrid after starting his career with hometown club Sevilla.
Ramos’ current buyout clause at the Bernabeu stands at €200 million (Dh835.7m), but with just two years remaining on his contract United would expect to pay less than half that figure if the Spanish giants were willing to sell.
Ramos, however, is believed to be extremely serious in his discontent with Madrid chief Perez, with the recent sacking of Carlo Ancelotti adding to the unhappiness already generated by the president’s tardiness in improving the defender’s current net salary of €6m (Dh25) per year.
And United are sure to leverage their interest in Ramos to gain the highest possible price for goalkeeper De Gea, who has allowed his contract to run down to its final season and has made it clear to club officials in both Manchester and Madrid that he wants to return to Spain.
De Gea’s switch to the Bernabeu, where he will replace long-serving captain Iker Casillas, has been inevitable for the last few months but United are determined to make sure the deal does not go through easily by using Ramos’ situation as a hardball negotiating tactic.