REAL MADRID COACH Rafael Benitez insists Sergio Ramos will not be leaving the club after labelling the centre-back a “winner”.
Manchester United have been tipped to sign the 29-year-old after talks stalled with Madrid over a new contract, which expires in June 2017.
Nevertheless, Benitez reiterated that Madrid have no intention of selling Ramos, with the Spain international part of the club’s pre-season training tour of Australia.
“There is a lot of talk about his [Ramos'] situation,” Benitez told reporters ahead of Madrid’s opening International Champions Cup match against Roma on Saturday.
“For me he is an enormous professional. He applies himself and does everything that the team and I ask. The president [Florentino Perez] has already commented that he is staying with the club.”
Benitez, who demanded that his side improve defensively after watching them concede more goals in La Liga than champions Barcelona, rivals Atletico Madrid and Valencia last season, then confirmed the importance of Ramos.
“I have spoken to him at length in the summer about his ideas and his future,” the former Napoli coach continued.
“I see Sergio as an integral part of our team. He is a winner and that is what we need in our team.”
The Spain international, who moved to the Bernabeu in 2005, is expected to be made captain following the departure of goalkeeper Iker Casillas to Porto.
Originally published at 10.49
De Gea staying for a final year so. Job.
As a United fan it’s music to my ears. Nice one Rafa.
The only bad news Rafa could deliver for United fans is if he announced he’s our new manager.
spot on Robert :)
Right enough. How has that bluffer wound up as real’s manager. He’ll last six months.
ye might actually do well in Europe then….
shove ramos up ure ass benitez. 50 million for a 29 year old never gonna happen.
so that’s a no to ronaldo then…
Ramos would’ve been a great signing for united but it was never going to happen. United have to accept that they can’t attract the top top players like they use to, maybe that will change again if they start winning leagues and competing for champions league. Realistically why would Ramos leave Madrid for united, at the moment they’re worlds apart footballing terms.
Schweinsteiger? Mata? Falcao? Schneiderlin? Di Maria?
Seriously Stephen?? Di Maria was the only prestigious signing from that list. Schweinsteiger and mata were on the bench for their respective clubs, falcao was trying to get out of Monaco and united offered him crazy money, scherdelin came from Southampton, he’s hardly a top top player.
Fair enough, I’d maintain that Falcao was a top signing at the time, and we both know Mata shouldn’t have been on the bench
Paul are you stupid enough to believe that one Ramos was ever leaving ! and only after a new contract ! and that all Utd have done is to toy with Madrid in playing Ramos’s game to try and get the best possible deal for De Gea or succeed in keeping him for another year .
obvious trolling is obvious. ..
And cue the onslaught of we never wanted him anyway comments while the jizz stained jocks from a few weeks ago are thrown in the washing machine
As Rafa would say “fact”
How is this bad news? Smalling is far better
Sh!t attempt at trolling, but it was funny enough all the same so I’ll give you this one.
Matt McTosser go home boy….