Real Madrid Ready To Keep Sergio Ramos

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Manchester United's hopes of signing Sergio Ramos have taken a huge blow, according to Friday's papers.

Real Madrid cave in over Sergio Ramos's wage demands - Manchester United's hopes of signing Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos appear to have taken a huge blow, according to The Sun. Bernabeu chiefs had pushed the 29-year-old to the exit door after rejecting his request for higher wages, and United were all set to step in and sign him - but now it seems that Real have backed down and are, "ready to offer Sergio Ramos £200,000 a week to keep him away from Manchester United. The offer would put the defender on the same scale as Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo at the Bernabeu. It would also appease the Spanish star, who is willing to walk out over their failure to offer him new and improved terms. "

Paper Round's view - And so it all happens. For weeks we've been wondering if Ramos's desire to leave wasn't just a desire for more money, exactly as Dani Alves called Barcelona's bluff before landing a new deal at the end of the season. Ramos's agents have played a superb hand, in fairness, screwing every last Euro out of his club. You might not agree with what they've done, and indeed you might well think that it's ethically reprehensible; but it's hard to deny that they've done it brilliantly.

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