Real Madrid Manager ‘100%’ Sure Ramos to Stay with Club

Melbourne (PNA/Xinhua) — Real Madrid manager Rafael Benitez has reasserted his confidence that Sergio Ramos will remain at the Bernabeu this season, despite the defender pursuing a move to Manchester United.

The Red Devils have been chasing Ramos’ signature for the past month, and reports from Spain on Wednesday suggested the defender had already “verbally agreed” to a move to Manchester.

However, Benitez told reporters on Thursday he was absolutely sure the 29-year-old Real stalwart would not be sold to the English Premier League giant.

“Yes, for me, 100 percent (he is staying),” he said.

“Ramos is our player, he’s a key player for us, he’s the captain… I think he will be crucial for us during the season.”

“I insist that it is clear for both me and the club that Sergio will be here.”

United are looking to broker the deal with the Spanish club by, according to reports, swapping its No. 1 shot-stopper David de Gea for Ramos.

Real will close out the International Champions Cup (ICC) against United’s unfriendly neighbor, Manchester City, to a sold-out Australian crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Friday night.

It’s unclear how much game time spectators can expect to be treated to from Real’s golden-boy, Christiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo under-performed in a dour affair to begin the ICC on Saturday, as both Real Madrid and Roma failed to hit the scoresheet in a bland nil-all draw.

Benitez watered down speculation from the Spanish press that Ronaldo was presently “angry and tense” with his surroundings at Real, after his star player lashed out at him for disallowing a goal during training on Wednesday.

“I have had the opportunity this week to spend quite a few days with him,” he said.

“I can say that he is competitive, he likes to win and for that reason he is the best in the world, I would like all my players to have that desire to win and compete.”

“I think his performance will be up to scratch … seeing Ronaldo up close training, I can see that he’s doing very well.”

Australia has done itself no harm reaffirming its place as a lucrative preseason warm-up destination for major European clubs over the past week, following bumper crowds of over 80,000 and 40,000 for the first two ICC friendlies.

Tickets for Friday night’s final friendly have been completely exhausted, with well in excess of 90,000 expected to be in attendance.

However, ICC organizers may have to substantially improve the venue’s turf to make an annual event of the competition, with all three managers expressing their dissatisfaction with the MCG surface over the course of this week. (PNA/Xinhua) LGI/CDN