Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has given into the demands of his disgruntled defender Sergio Ramos and has agreed to sell the team captain to Manchester United, according to Radio Marca.
Reports from Spain have indicated that did Perez joined up with the team in Australia and once again held face-to-face talks with Ramos in an attempt to repair their damaged relationship.
To this point, Ramos has remained professional and refused to publicly comment about his feelings towards the club president. However, it is understood that the team captain has reiterated to Perez that he wants to leave Real Madrid this summer – with Manchester United being his preferred destination.
Radio Marca journalist Pablo Garcia Cuervo claims Perez plans to drag out the negotiations in order to portray Ramos in a negative light.
“Sergio has made his mind up,” Garcia said. “Florentino also wants Sergio to leave.
“If Florentino Perez wanted to keep Casillas, he hid it very well. The same is happening with Ramos.”
The defender’s desire to leave the club is not because a financial payday awaits him once a transfer to United is agreed by Madrid officials. Ramos is intent on leaving the club where he has spent the past ten seasons because his fractured relationship with Perez has reached the point of no return.
The club president has continually promised Ramos that he would improve his current deal with Real Madrid ever since the defender headed home the equalizing goal against Atletico Madrid in the dying moments of injury-time during the 2014 Champions League final.
During the post-match celebrations, after Madrid had secured its tenth European title, Perez made the following promise to Ramos: “I will improve your contract because you deserve it.”
But months followed and an improved deal was never addressed.
Aside from his efforts during the Champions League final in Lisbon, Ramos scored decisive goals in the semi-final and final of the Club World Cup and ended up winning the tournament’s Golden Ball award in Morocco.
The defender played a significant role in ultimately leading Real Madrid to a quartet of trophies – the Copa del Rey, the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup – for the first time in a single calendar year.
However, while he was publicly lauded for his efforts, Ramos was never presented with the improved offer that he was promised.
The now-team captain sat quietly while Perez extended deals for striker Karim Benzema, Raphael Varane and Luka Modric; and green-lit the signings of Toni Kroos, James Rodriguez, Keylor Navas, Lucas Silva, Martin Odegaard and Danilo over the past twelve months.
It is understood that a meeting took place between Ramos’ agent and Real Madrid at some point this season. However, a conclusion on the defender’s future was never reached.
If the current transfer saga was solely about the player not receiving an improved deal from the club, fans might think Ramos was over-reacting.
[interaction id=”5591c680ab9dc6b4493dfb42″]
But Ramos also feels that Perez’s interference with sporting matters has become too excessive.
The veteran player was beside himself in May after the club president manipulated Real Madrid’s board into rubber-stamping the sacking of manager Carlo Ancelotti.
Despite public support from Ramos, Iker Casillas and Cristiano Ronaldo; Perez ultimately had Ancelotti fired and quickly ushered in the arrival of Rafa Benitez from Napoli.
He is also “unhappy” with the way the club and Perez did not dismiss the transfer speculation which linked him with a switch to Barcelona in June.
Ramos believes his commitment to Real Madrid has gone above and beyond the call of duty over the past ten seasons, and he can’t understand why Perez and his camp continue to allow stories to be leaked which he feels have damaged his reputation with club supporters.
In addition, Ramos has watched while his close friend and former team captain Iker Casillas suffered at the hands of a section of Real Madrid fans over the past two seasons, and the defender does not want to endure the same treatment.
The Spain international has thought long and hard over his decision to leave and is now focused on the next big challenge of his career – proving himself in the England.
And, if today’s report from Radio Marca is correct, it appears Ramos will be plying his trade at Old Trafford in the near future.
200+ Channels With Sports & News
- Starting price: $33/mo. for fubo Latino Package
- Watch Premier League, Liga MX & Copa Libertadores
The New Home of MLS
- Price: $14.99/mo. for MLS Season Pass
- Watch every MLS game including playoffs & Leagues Cup
Many Sports & ESPN Originals
- Price: $10.99/mo. (or get ESPN+, Hulu & Disney+ for $14.99/mo.)
- Features Bundesliga, LaLiga, NWSL, & USL
2,000+ soccer games per year
- Price: $7.99/mo
- Features Champions League, Serie A, Europa League & EFL
175 Premier League Games & PL TV
- Starting price: $7.99/mo. for Peacock Premium
- Watch 175 exclusive EPL games per season