Problems mount for Real Madrid as questions arise about Spanish central defender Sergio Ramos.
Confusion arose on Friday when Jordi Majo, one of the candidates for the presidency of FC Barcelona, announced that Ramos was a possible signing should he win next month’s election at the club, .
This supposed offer, which has been denied by Ramos’ camp, comes as the defender is in talks to extend his contract at Real Madrid. Ramos’ current deal expires in 2017 and unless the club is willing to extend that contract in the near future, they would have to consider selling him cheap in 2016 or risk him leaveing for nothing in two years.
As such it could be a means of pressuring the club into increasing his wages, but Ramos’ situation has apparently been seized by Manchester United, who know Real want to sign its goalkeeper David de Gea and the opportunity of including Ramos in the deal.
The situation is further complicated by Madrid’s interest in Valencia defender Nicolas Otamendi, who is also wanted by United.
The Spanish press now openly speculate that Ramos, who along with Iker Casillas and Cristiano Ronaldo, leaders of the dressing room, could abandon Real this summer.
There are also reports that Casillas could also move given that the 34-year-old does not have a good relationship with club president Florentino Perez and is unwilling to spend a year on the bench.
Meanwhile stories that new coach Rafa Benitez wants to give Gareth Bale a role on the left of the Real attack or a free role behind the striker is also rumoured to have annoyed Ronaldo, who played on the left in recent seasons.
Ronaldo has a contract until 2018, but celebrated his 30th birthday in February and if the club wanted to sell him for around 100 million euros ($110 million) it would have to do so either this summer or in 2016.
