Juventus’ Leonardo Bonucci is reportedly Florentino Perez’s first choice to replace Sergio Ramos if the defender leaves Real Madrid.
According to Mundo Deportivo, negotiations to extend Ramos’ contract, which began several months ago, have suffered several breakdowns, to the point that they have reached a temporary impasse.
The President, meanwhile, is unwilling to meet the stopper’s reported demands of €10m per season, which would make him the club’s highest-paid player, given that he will be 31 once his current deal expires in 2017.
Consequently, numerous potential replacements have been put forward by the patron, including Valencia’s Nicolas Otamendi, but the newspaper claims Bonucci is his favoured choice and could soon be the subject of a €30m bid.
The 28-year-old joined Juve in the summer of 2010 and has been indispensable to the Bianconeri cause ever since, helping the side reach last season’s Champions League final at the expense of Los Blancos in the last four.
Manchester United are considered the favourites to sign Ramos if he leaves Madrid, despite the centre-back’s €150m buyout clause.
