Ramos deal sees van Gaal’s pursuit end in defeat
SERGIO RAMOS will sign a new contract with Real Madrid, which ends Manchester United’s hopes of bringing him to Old Trafford. Sources close to Real have revealed that the new deal will be signed after a summit meeting between Ramos and club president Florentino Perez in China. And Real remain relaxed about holding out another year for David de Gea if Ramos’ failure to go to United means that the Premier League club refuse to negotiate over the sale of the Spanish goalkeeper. Real know that de Gea will join them next summer when his contract at United runs out and are relaxed about starting the season with goalkeepers Kiko Casilla and Keylor Navas. Ramos had been infuriated with Real, because of press briefings he believed were directed by the club, which had questioned his loyalty when he asked for €10million a year-net wages — the equivalent of £13.5m gross in the UK or £260,000 a week. However, in a meeting in Guangzhou on the club’s Chinese tour, Ramos’ brother Rene, the player himself, Perez and director general Jose Angel Sanchez have restored relationships and it seems that a compromise will be reached, meaning it is expected to be signed on their return to Madrid. With Angel di Maria on the verge of leaving for £46m, it is another blow for United in the transfer market in which they had made a top centreback a priority. United want to sign Nicolas Otamendi, but do not want to meet the £36m asking price, though the player is managed by Jorge Mendes, with whom United have good relations.
ROB DRAPER