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Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos is set to hold face to face talks with club president Florentino Perez, The Independent reports. The 29-year-old is currently in Australia where Madrid are participating in the International Champions Cup and will reportedly meet up with Perez in China in the next leg of their pre-season tour.
Perez is scheduled to visit the far-east to watch Real in action when they take on AC Milan and Inter Milan and will discuss the transfer issue with Ramos. The defender was made club captain following the departure of Iker Casillas but is reportedly still unhappy and will state his interest at joining Manchester United.
The 13-time Premier League champions had an initial bid for the defender turned down last month and the protracted transfer saga seemed to have died down after comments by new Madrid coach Rafael Benitez that Ramos was indispensable.
"For me, he is an enormous professional. In person, he applies himself, he does everything that the team and I ask of him,” Benitez said, according to Sky Sports. "And for me, the matter (is that) the president has already commented that he is staying with the club.”
"I have spoken to him at length in the summer about his ideas, about his future. I see Sergio as an integral part of our team, he's a winner and that's what we need in our team," Benitez concluded.
The rumours started circulating again however after United manager Louis van Gaal refused to confirm or deny their pursuit of Ramos.
"I cannot talk about these rumours,” Van Gaal said, according to Sky Sports. "I have said already it's a process and maybe Mr Ramos is in the process – you never know."
There have been unconfirmed reports since that United have lodged an improved bid and that Ramos has already agreed personal terms with the English club in the event the transfer goes through.
Jesus Navas unsure of close friend Ramos’ future
Manchester City winger Jesus Navas, who is a good friend of Ramos ever since their days at Sevilla together early on in their respective careers, said that he is not aware what Ramos has in mind.
"Sergio is a colleague and a friend and I always wish him the best," Navas said, according to ESPN. “He is in a top club and I don't know what is going to happen regarding his future. I have not spoken about this with him.”
"We were together this summer at a wedding of a friend of ours but he was only concerned about resting. He doesn't talk about those things with me, but I think he is focused on Real. I don't know if he will continue there – that is something you would have to ask him. I just wish him the best and that he is happy wherever he is," Navas concluded.
