Was he just taking the piss out of Man United all summer in an effort to get the deal he wanted at Real? At this stage, it seems the only answer to that is 'hell yes, and it really worked for him'.
When the first rumours emerged it seemed like little more than the transfer bullshit kicking into gear early. Then drip by drip it became clear that United's interest was genuine and what's more, Ramos was genuinely unhappy with his treatment at Madrid.
Bids were made, quotes attributed to Ramos were leaked and little by little it looked like David De Gea would be heading to the Bernabeu and Ramos would be the centre back that Louis Van Gaal has been crying out for. Yet there was always the assumption that United were being used like some kind of cheap one night stand.
Ramos and his representatives may have denied that but judging by what he's had to say at his press conference (apparently that's a thing for contract signings now), it's hard to judge it in any other manner.
"My happiness is here, why would I waste time anywhere else?" - Ramos
— AS USA (@English_AS) August 17, 2015
Ramos: "I've never been motivated by money, just happiness and my family. I've always wanted to retire here." #UCL
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 17, 2015
Ouch. Louis van Gaal is seething somewhere in the greater Manchester area right about now. Ramos also took to twitter to tell Madrid fans just how happy he was to be staying.
El @realmadrid es mi casa, un sueño de 10 años que no ha terminado. Entonces, ahora y siempre HALA MADRID #2020SR4 https://t.co/xEWzftwpK0
— Sergio Ramos (@SergioRamos) August 17, 2015
Translated, that means 'Real Madrid is my home, a ten year dream that hasn't ended. So, for now and forever, Hala Madrid.
And just as a nice little sweetner for rejecting Man United's advances, he's also been made the club captain for the upcoming season following the departure of Iker Casillas.
