New Paris Saint-Germain defender Sergio Ramos is believed to have turned down offers from Premier League clubs Arsenal and Manchester City before agreeing to move to the French capital.
After concluding a 16-year deal with Real Madrid when his contract expired at the end of June, Ramos has signed a two-year contract with PSG until the summer of 2023.
The 35-year-old is a four-time Champions League, a two-time European champion and a World Cup winner and is one of the most decorated players of his generation. Already at his age, the chance to sign such a person was a huge opportunity and PSG was not the only interested team.
90 minutes revealed as far back as November 2020 that all of the Premier League’s six major clubs – Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham – had an eye on Ramos and had informed their camp that they might be interested in really on the go.
Ramos left Real Madrid as a free agent after failing to agree on a new contract / Soccrates Images / Getty Images
At the time, most were cautious about his intentions and were reluctant to make firm offers before knowing if there was actually a possibility he could leave Madrid. Manchester United were burned in 2015 when their strategy ended with Ramos signing a new contract.
But when Ramos’ division with Real has been confirmed, it seems as if he had the opportunity to move to the Premier League. According to Goal, Arsenal offered a two-year contract worth around £ 290,000 a week, while an offer from Manchester City is also said to have been “attractive”.
Earlier rumors of a possible contract from City suggested that the Premier League champions would offer a two-year contract, with a plan adapted to the player’s form and own preferences. It is said to include an option for a third year in Manchester or a transfer to MLS sister club New York City.
Due to challenging club finances, Real were anxious for Ramos to take a pay cut and were not prepared to meet his requirements for more than a year. It has been said earlier now that his preference was to stay, but Goal adds that when he was ready to accept Real’s terms, the contract offer had been withdrawn, leaving him to leave as a free agent instead.
His deal in Paris is for two years and is said to be worth 15 million euros per season, including bonuses, which is actually less lucrative than what Arsenal were obviously willing to pay him.
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