Madrid, June 25 (IANS) Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos is capturing all the headlines at the start of the summer in Spain.
The Spain international was at the Real Madrid training ground on Wednesday to meet the club’s General Director Jose Angel Sanchez presumably to ask for a transfer after becoming frustrated at the lack of progress in talks over renewing his current contract, which expires in 2017, reports Xinhua.
Ramos has been linked with a possible move to Manchester United, a transfer which would net the central defender a considerable pay rise.
Real Madrid want to sign Manchester United’s Spain international goalkeeper David de Gea and although the English club do not want to lose the keeper, they know he can leave for nothing in a year and as a result are looking for a swap deal Ramos for de Gea.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, are thought to be unwilling to do a straight swap and would look for money as well as de Gea in order to allow Ramos to leave and the story looks as if it will drag on for several days if not weeks.
Deals which have been completed have seen Malaga complete two much needed signings — midfielder/full back Juan Carlos has joined on a season’s loan from Sporting Braga. Carlos, who came from the Real Madrid youth system, has also played for Zaragoza and spent last season at Granada.
Portuguese player Fabio Espinosa has also arrived at the club, joining on a free transfer from Bulgarian side Ludogorets, where he has gained experience playing in European competitions.
Elsewhere, Valencia, who finished last season in fourth place in La Liga and have qualified for the Champions League knockouts, have extended the contract of midfielder Dani Parejo until June 2020 while Rayo Vallecano’s sporting director Felipe Minambres has renewed his contract with the Madrid based club for a further two years.