Sergio Ramos is on his way to Manchester United, after Real Madrid gave up convincing the centre-back to stay at the Bernabeu this season.
Ramos has reportedly told Real Madrid he wants to leave for Manchester United this summer, but the Spanish giants have held firm so far, in a bid to keep the man who was expected to take over the captaincy mantle following the controversial exit of Iker Casillas to FC Porto.
The Spain international even wore the armband for Real Madrid in their International Champions Cup 2015 match against Manchester City on Friday, but intriguingly did not come up to pick up the trophy after the 4-1 win, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Alvaro Arbeloa doing the honours.
On the pitch, Ramos certainly did not show any sign of discontent, as he was his usual 100%-committed best, but the signs of the 29-year-old wanting away from Real Madrid are just not going away.
The latest of those signs come via Spanish journalist Pablo Garcia Cuervo, who says Ramos is determined to leave, with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez also feeling the same way.
"Sergio has made his mind up," Cuervo told Radio Marca. "Florentino also wants Sergio to leave, but Real Madrid want it to seem like Sergio is the one who wants to leave because he isn't very 'Madridista'.
"If Florentino Perez wanted to keep Casillas, he hid it very well.
"The same is happening with Ramos."
Manchester United have reportedly had one bid turned down by Real Madrid, with new manager Rafa Benitez then coming and saying he is intent on keeping Ramos at the Bernabeu and sees the defender as his captain for the new season.
"Ramos is our captain and a very important player for us," Benitez said before the win over Manchester City. "I hope he's still here at the beginning of the season. I want him to stay on.
"He's a fundamental player for all of us. It's clear to me and the club that he will remain 100% committed to Real Madrid. I respect [Manchester United manager Louis] Van Gaal, but what matters to me is that Ramos stays here."
Benitez then went on to reiterate his belief that Ramos would stay at Real Madrid after the win over Manchester City on Friday.
"When I arrived, I spoke to Iker and Sergio and ascertained what the situation of each one was," the former Liverpool manager added. "Sergio has known from day one that I want him to stay and I'm sure that he'll stay with us."
Van Gaal would not be drawn on the subject of transfers during his media conference ahead of Manchester United's International Champions Cup 2015 game against Barcelona, but if the reports from Spain are indeed true, and both Ramos and Perez want the defender to end his association with Real Madrid, then it surely is just a matter of time before that official announcement is made on both the clubs' websites.
