Manchester United are prepared to lose more than £25m and let goalkeeper David De Gea leave for free next summer rather than give in to Real Madrid. The 24-year-old will only be sold to the Spanish giants as part of a swap deal, with defender Sergio Ramos, 29, joining United. The club see Real as acting “like bullies” and, with their own revenue soaring, are intent on “slugging it out” with Real for the best players. De Gea is Real’s main summer target. The Spaniard has one year left on his contract and wants to return to his homeland. But the Old Trafford club, irritated at the idea Real can cherry-pick their best players, struck first, making two bids for Ramos – the most recent for £28.6m – which have both been turned down. And speaking on the Spanish club’s pre-season tour in Australia, Real Madrid’s new coach Rafael Benitez said Ramos, the only Real player United are interested in, was going nowhere.
Source: BBC
