Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has confirmed that Manchester United wanted four of his players during the Red Devils’ frustrating summer in the transfer market.
Admittedly, Louis van Gaal bought considerably during the summer, managing to bring the likes of Morgan Schneiderlin, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Matteo Darmian, Memphis Depay and, latterly, AS Monaco frontman Anthony Martial.
However, the club were also linked to high-profile additions such as Sergio Ramos [Telegraph], who ultimately opted to remain at Real Madrid after being offered the captaincy following the departure of Iker Casillas.
According to Perez—whose Merengues side apparently failed with a late bid to bring United goalkeeper David De Gea to the Bernabeu [ESPN]—United had their eyes on three other Real Madrid players.
“We know that United showed interest in [Gareth] Bale, [Karim] Benzema and [Raphael] Varane,” Perez told Spanish radio station Cadena Ser, as per the Mirror.
“I never saw Ramos leaving this club,” the president continued, referring to the regular rumours linking the Spanish defender to Old Trafford.
“He was never close to doing so. Manchester United meddled in the situation.
“Those who want to do harm to Real Madrid meddle but nothing really happened, nothing more than happens every summer.”
It remains to be seen which of the four players would have been the best addition to the United ranks.
SEE MORE
Why Aaron Lennon’s Tottenham exit marks the end of an era for Spurs
Gallery – Retro Football Shirts: Iconic Manchester United, Chelsea, Real Madrid shirts given a modern twist
PSG will surely think big to replace Zlatan Ibrahimovic next summer, as superstar misses out on Arsenal transfer
After losing Jonny Evans to West Bromwich Albion, United appear light at centre-back, where Daley Blind has been forced to play in the heart of the defence so far this season, due to a lack of other convincing options.
Ramos and Varane would certainly have gone a long way to enforce a rather fragile-looking backline.
Similarly, it remains to be seen whether Memphis Depay or the unproven Anthony Martial will be able to replace the departed Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao and fire the north-west heavyweights to the title their fans crave.