Sergio Ramos is already on the market. Real Madrid have put him there, pricing him at €90 million. That is the starting price Florentino Pérez has given Manchester United after the English club, as reported by AS yesterday, made an opening bid of €50 million. For now, that will not be enough but negotiations are already underway. The meeting at Valdebebas between Ramos and José Ángel Sánchez (which Florentino did not attend) on Wednesday were far from served to discuss a renewal, as the Madrid fans expected. Instead, it was the starting point for his departure. “Listen to offers for me”, said the defender.
For Ramos it is no longer a question of money (he asked for €10 million net per season in a new contract with his current deal at €6 million). It is understood that the treatment he has received from Florentino Perez recently has not gone down well, treatment similar to that of Casillas, and it is abut to result in the departure of the club’s two captains.
The €90 million demanded by Madrid for Ramos would be a record for a centre-back. There are other examples of big deals for players in his position such as David Luiz, bought by PSG from Chelsea for €49 million in 2014 and Thiago Silva, also bought by PSG for €40 million in 2012. Before them, the transfer of Rio Ferdinand from Leeds United to Manchester United brough €46 million. Juventus paid Parma €33 million for Lilian Thuram in 2001 and Pepe arrived at Madrid from Porto in 2007 for €30 million. United have made an initial offer of €50 million thinking it would be a reasonable price considering the historical background. But it is also true that they can go up to €70 million. Ramos would receive €55 million net over five seasons.
Neither United nor Sergio Ramos want to tie any deal in with the possible departure of David de Gea to Madrid. In fact, this newspaper understands today that United have said the Spanish goalkeeper is “not for sale”. And although the Madrid-born goalkeeper’s contract is up next summer the United response has surprised Madrid, saying they would not mind to do with him what Madrid did with Khedira this summer and let him leave for free. Behind closed doors, United are talking about €40 million being enough to let De Gea leave. In Madrid they have started a plan to include De Gea in any deal for United to sign Ramos. It will be difficult.
Cashing in. Madrid have priced Ramos up at €90 million and have not responded to the claims by saying that Ramos is the club captain and he will not be sold. It makes the intentions of Florentino clear – he wants to cash in. Florentino would like to bring the money in that would allow him to splash out on another ‘Galáctico’ (Madrid have accumulated a debt of €602 million), namely Agüero. He bought Bale (€101m) by selling Higuaín (€40m) and Özil (€45m). And to sign James (€80m) had to get rid of Di Maria (€75m).