Football
ESPN staff 9y

Real Madrid confirm Sergio Ramos to sign five-year contract

Sergio Ramos has agreed to a new five-year contract at Real Madrid that ends speculation over a move to Manchester United, the Spanish club have announced.

Ramos, 29, will officially extend his stay at the 10-times European champions at a ceremony at the club's Santiago Bernabeu stadium at 13:30 local time on Monday, a club statement confirmed.

The Spain international defender was widely reported to have been unhappy with Real over their failure to offer him an extension to his previous deal, which was due to expire in 2017.

It was also claimed that Ramos was unhappy that Madrid had refused to respond publicly when Barcelona presidential candidate Jordi Majo said he had been offered the defender as a "secret weapon" in the election at the Camp Nou.

Former club president Ramon Calderon said the defender, who was also reported to have been unhappy at head coach Carlo Ancelotti and goalkeeper Iker Casillas' departures, had told the club "to listen to offers they get from Manchester United."

United boss Louis van Gaal had fuelled speculation about a deal when he said last month: "I cannot talk about these rumours ... it's a process and maybe Mr. Ramos is in the process, you never know."

However, current Real president Florentino Perez refused to consider offers for Ramos, despite his club's interest in United goalkeeper David De Gea, and Marca reported that he reached an agreement with the player in a meeting that took place during the club's preseason tour of China.

Ramos, who joined Real from Sevilla in 2005, has won La Liga three times, the Copa del Rey twice and the 2014 Champions League during his time at the Bernabeu.

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