Man United and City on alert as Ramos 'heading for Real Madrid exit after row over Mbappe'

Manchester United and Manchester City are on alert after reports in Spain claimed there was little chance of Sergio Ramos signing a deal at Real Madrid following a clash with club officials over Kylian Mbappe.

The centre-back, 35, will become a free agent when his contract ends on June 30.

Spanish outlet AS claim there has been a breakdown in the relationship between Ramos and president Florentino Perez.

One of the main reasons was that Ramos was among the group of Real Madrid players unhappy with plans for a 10 per cent pay-cut due to the pandemic and the lack of supporters in the stadium. 

He reportedly told his team-mates not to accept the proposals because the money they saved would only be used to sign PSG striker Mbappe.

The fall-out meant there was little prospect of Ramos and the club agreeing a new contract. Indeed, Ramos did not feature in the promotional video for the new kit for next season. 

Ramos has spent the last 16 seasons in the Spanish capital with Real and has led them to five LaLiga titles, four Champions League trophies and four more Club World Cups.

But the veteran defender has struggled with several long-term injuries over the course of the season, which forced Spain manager Luis Enrique to leave him out of the country’s European Championship squad for the summer.

Ramos played 21 times for Real this season due to the injury setbacks, as Los Blancos finished the 2020-21 campaign as LaLiga runners-up and Champions League semi-finalists to Chelsea.

He remains one of Manchester United’s top transfer targets this summer.

And according to ESPN, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is in awe of Ramos’ leadership qualities and will offer the 35-year-old a contract should he not renew at the Bernabeu.