Manchester United won't let David De Gea leave unless they sign Sergio Ramos from Real Madrid

The Spanish national team-mates are likely heading in opposite directions

According to The Guardian, Manchester United are refusing to do business with Real Madrid over the transfer of David de Gea if the Spanish club do not let Sergio Ramos move in the other direction. The Old Trafford club are prepared to run down their Spanish goalkeeper’s contract if they are unable to sign Ramos this summer.

United has been playing hardball with Real Madrid all summer over De Gea. The Red Devils’ Player of the Year for the last two seasons has been widely tipped to return to the Spanish capital and join Los Blancos. He had initially played for their city rivals Atletico Madrid before moving to United for £18 million in the summer of 2012.

De Gea has not come out publically and spoken of his likely destination next summer but has hinted on more than one occasion about a move to Madrid. United have offered the Spanish shot-stopper a lucrative 5-year contract which he has been reluctant to sign. The 24-year-old even reportedly put his six-bedroom mansion in Manchester up for sale and bid farewell to United team-mates at their Aon training complex in Carrington.

Manchester United have made a bid but Madrid haven’t

Madrid have yet to make an official offer for De Gea but ESPN had reported that the Red Devils were holding out for an improved offer, failing which the United shot-stopper was set to play out the final year of his contract at Old Trafford. The latest reports though suggest that Madrid’s refusal to let go of Ramos is the major stumbling block in the proposed transfer.

United have already bid for the 29-year-old Spanish defender, but Madrid are not entertaining any offers for the club’s vice-captain. Ramos has two years remaining on his contract at Real, but United’s £35 million bid seems to have been turned down.

Ramos, who has been at the capital club for over 10 years since completing a transfer from Sevilla, is being courted by Louis van Gaal for his leadership abilities and fine goal-scoring record for a defender. With Phil Jones signing a new five-year contract at Old Trafford, the manager is hoping to add Ramos’ experience to what is a pretty young United defence.

Ramos has reportedly told the club officials at Madrid that he wants to leave the club with his only preferred destination being Manchester United. The revelation by Ramos’ mother that her son would like to stay in Madrid did dampen the transfer rumours a bit, but United are reportedly readying a second bid.