Man City prepare offer for Sergio Ramos
According to reports from ESPN, and which this newspaper can also confirm, City will offer Ramos a two-year deal should he walk away from Real Madrid on 30 June.
As the impasse between Sergio Ramos and Real Madrid on the captain’s contract extension continues, each day it looks ever likelier that the veteran defender will leave the club once his current deal ends at the end of June.
Some of Europe’s top teams are closely following the situation and are ready to make a bid for Ramos if or when his exit is made official. Among those clubs is Manchester City, who are looking to strengthen their back line with a veteran defender for next season and Ramos' Champions League-winning experience would be greatly valued at the Etihad.
According to reports from ESPN, and which this newspaper can also confirm, City will offer Ramos a two-year deal should he walk away from Madrid on 30 June. The offer would also include one more optional year at City Football Group’s MLS franchise, New York City. Though, of course, City would not rule out extending his stay in England beyond two seasons should the 35-year-old still be physically up to the task.
Ramos-Real Madrid contract impasse
City will offer Ramos just what Madrid has been denying him: a two-year contract. This is now the main sticking point in negotiations between the club and captain.
Ramos is willing to accept the 10% salary cut that Madrid is requesting of all players, but he wants two more seasons and believes Madrid should give him a two-year deal based on the merits of his physical fitness. Madrid, however, are only willing to consider a contract renewal on a year-by-year basis due to the captain’s advanced age, as well as the history of injuries he has experienced since January 2021.
There are also other external factors unrelated to Ramos himself that bear influence on the negotiations: Madrid have just signed David Alaba on a free, with the Austrian center-back ready to take over the captain’s role on the left side of central defense. On the other hand, there is the situation with Raphael Varane. With the club not in a position to fulfill his request for a pay rise, the French centre-back is not willing to renew his deal beyond 2022, meaning Madrid could look to offload him this summer so as not to lose him on a free transfer at the end of next season.
If Madrid do find a buyer for Varane soon, the club would be more inclined to offer Ramos the two-year contract he desires, ensuring there are four central defenders in place for next season: Alaba, Nacho, Militao and Ramos himself.