Twitter Reacts as Sergio Ramos Signs New Real Madrid Contract

Manchester United's pursuit of Sergio Ramos reached its formal conclusion on Monday, when the Spanish defender signed a new five-year contract at the Bernabeu. The deal, as reported by the Guardian, will keep the Red Devils' summer muse in Madrid until 2020:

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Sergio Ramos posing with his family & the President. #Ramos2020 pic.twitter.com/3wFX1i9joZ

— SocialRMadrid (@SocialRMadrid) August 17, 2015"

At the press conference, Ramos emphasised the fact he never actually wished to expand his red-card collection at a different club and that the decision was not financially motivated:

The reaction of Manchester United's fanbase was a mixture of anger, apathy and embarrassment:

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Ramos wanted to leave Real Madrid They made him captain of the 1st team De Gea wanted to leave ManUtd We made him train with the reserves

— Manchesterspeak (@Manchesterspeak) August 17, 2015"

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Sergio Ramos has extended his contract at Real Madrid until 2020 Oh my god, no-one saw that coming..................

— Matthew (@carrick_fan) August 17, 2015"

There was also a lot of heat directed toward Ed Woodward. United's executive vice-chairman was hailed as some kind of deity when he brought in Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger in rapid succession, but the reason for that praise seems to have been quickly forgotten:

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That one heady weekend aside, the #Ramos saga shows Woodward & co. still have a long way to go to understand the transfer business. #MUFC

— Srirangan (@22sports) August 17, 2015"

It was clear many people believed Ramos and his team of advisors had used United as leverage for a new Madrid contract:

Apparently, that leveraging technique was a huge success:

The good folks at Paddy Power were able to offer an animated illustration of the process that took place:

Naturally, the news of Ramos rebuffing Woodward's advances set off the schadenfreude alarms on Twitter, and many took the opportunity to poke fun at the Old Trafford faithful:

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To my United friends who thought they were getting Sergio Ramos... pic.twitter.com/tdTILM9EZS

— Tony Blackstock (@PeakCaffeineH20) August 17, 2015"

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LVG: "Ed when can we announce Ramos?" Giggs: "Or Otamendi?" Ed Woodward: "Listen, it's mad." pic.twitter.com/e4PYzkSAAk

— At.Long.Last.€hizzy. (@MrCotidie) August 17, 2015"

Ramos' decision to stay may have an impact on David De Gea's move to Madrid, with many asserting that the move was contingent on Madrid's new captain moving in the other direction. The latest update? No one knows what is happening:

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sergio ramos extends his contract, does that mean de gea is staying?

— noah (@noahmufc) August 17, 2015"

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Sergio #Ramos signed new Contract while De Gea still trying to Escape.. pic.twitter.com/jr7IMa60dV

— Mano (@Officialhbkmano) August 17, 2015"

Ultimately, the Ramos contract resolution has left many United fans disheartened and has given us all an insight into the modern art of contract renegotiation in football. However, it must be noted most Madrid fans are delighted with the news emanating from the Bernabeu. So at least there's that:

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Our best signing this summer? Keeping Sergio Ramos. https://t.co/GYFiPPm1JW

— BlancoEdition (@BlancoEdition) August 17, 2015"

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