Real Madrid Readying Bid For Chelsea Star Ramires

UEFA Champions League defending champions Real Madrid are reportedly lining up £30m for Chelsea midfielder Ramires ahead of the winter transfer window which opens January 1 2015. Real Madrid boss, Carlo Ancelotti is an admirer of the Brazilian’s talent and looks to re-unite himself with the player, who was a key figure for Chelsea during Ancelotti’s time there. This season, however, since Chelsea acquired the services of Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matic, the versatile Brazilian midfielder has not seen too much playing time. Real Madrid, though star-studded in the midfield with players like newly signed Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Asier Illaramendi and others, the manager, Ancelotti would want to expand his options in the midfield hence the interest in Ramires. The Italian, Ancelotti, was the manager at Chelsea when the Blues signed Ramires from Portuguese club, Benfica in the summer of 2010 for €22m.

Though Ramires’ existing contract with Chelsea doesn’t expire in 3 years, it would be down to Real Madrid’s determination to sign him because the knock down fee that Chelsea would expectedly quote as his valuation cannot but be payable by the Spanish giants. Real Madrid are known to be the biggest spenders when it comes to player’s transfer fees in the last few years. The versatile 27-year-old Brazilian is a utility player who has played everywhere in the midfield at one time or another during his time at Benfica and even Chelsea. He is comfortable in either the deep lying or defensive midfield role. He plays as a box-to-box midfielder because of his energy in supporting defensive and offensive play. He has been variously compared to former Chelsea utility player, Michael Essien. He was an important member of the Brazilian squad that was ousted at the semi-final quarter by Germany in the recently concluded 2014 FIFA World Cup hosted by his home land, Brazil.

For Real Madrid as well as any other team, Ramires would make a good signing whatever the valuation of Chelsea is. Ramires brings pace and efficiency when going forward and steel when defending. Not the usual big framed stature of the average midfielder in the English Premier League but the player’s overall contribution to his team is very invaluable. Therefore, it is a plus for Real Madrid if they succeed in their bid to land the versatile Ramires in January. What is not clear though is whether Chelsea is willing to sell the midfielder to the Spanish heavyweights in January or any time in the nearest future. This season, Jose Mourinho has kept faith with Nemanja Matic, Cesc Fabregas, Andrea Schurlle, Eden Hazard, Oscar and sometimes Willian in the Chelsea’s midfield. Most times, Ramires doesn’t even make the substitute bench as Jose Mourinho seems to favour players like John Mikel Obi over Ramires.

The question now would be; is Real Madrid a better option for Ramires, who obviously wants more playing time? Though Carlo Ancelotti has expressed his desire to expand the Real Madrid’s midfield options, it cannot be stated with all certainty that Ramires would always be a starter at Santiago Bernabeu. However, with Carlo Ancelotti at the helm of affairs when it comes to team selection, Ramires may just be favoured as it seems the manager highly rates the Brazilian had some players in his squad, hence the interest in him.