Real Madrid has hit the brakes on Sergio Ramos’ potential transfer to Manchester United.
Real Madrid rejected Manchester United’s £32 million ($50 million) transfer bid for Ramos, the Independent reported Thursday. Manchester United hoped the mammoth bid would persuade Real Madrid to part ways with the unsettled Ramos, but the Spanish club turned down the cash offer.
Ramos is locked in a heated dispute with Real Madrid over his pay, according to the Guardian. The 29-year-old defender is just the seventh-highest-paid player at the club, despite being a vice-captain and boasting a resume of which most players only can dream.
Ramos’ contract expires in 2017, and Real Madrid’s reluctance to offer him an extension with his desired salary has him considering leaving the club he has played for since 2005.
Ramos also is among the Real Madrid stars who are unhappy Carlo Ancelotti was fired as head coach in May. Rafael Benitez replaced Ancelotti on Real Madrid’s hot seat but has yet to begin working with the players on the practice field.
Ramos undoubtedly is aware of Manchester United’s interest in his services, and he reportedly asked Real Madrid to consider the Premier League club’s offer Wednesday.
However, Real Madrid balked at Manchester United bid, leaving Ramos in limbo just two weeks before his current team begins preseason training.
“United are convinced that Ramos’ words and actions during an intense week at his club reveal that he is genuinely interested in joining them and is not involved in a game of bluff, designed to engineer a new contract,” the Independent said. “There will now be a two-week cooling-off period, when the level of Ramos’ desire to leave for United will be put to the test.”
Ramos would represent a transfer coup for Manchester United, and his departure would be a blow to Real Madrid. But that outcome is far from a certainty at this point in time.
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@IndyFootball
