Louis van Gaal wanted the player during his time in charge of Manchester United
Louis van Gaal pointing
Louis van Gaal lasted just two years at Old Trafford(Image: Getty Images)
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Manchester United have an opening to finally secure one of Louis van Gaal's dream signings amid reports they are interested in Sergio Ramos.
The Real Madrid icon, 38, joined Liga MX side Monterrey in February earlier this year after spending a year at boyhood club Sevilla. Ramos' stint in Mexico lasted 10 months, as he announced his departure from the club earlier this month.
Showing no signs of calling time on what has been an incredible 21-year football career, the Spaniard has yet to choose the next step of his journey, with United one of many clubs linked with signing the most capped player in his national team's history.
That's according to Spanish outlet Cadena SER, but ESPN have since reported that the Premier League side have no interest in signing the defender. Should Ramos make the shock move to the Premier League for the first time in his career, it would have been 10 years in the making.
He was high on Van Gaal's wishlist upon his appointment at Old Trafford in 2015, with the Dutchman revealing he had plans to pair Ramos up with ex-Germany international Mats Hummels.
Speaking to FourFourTwo about the targets he missed out on at United, Van Gaal said: "I wanted Lewandowski, but when this proved difficult I tried to get Gonzalo Higuain instead. Before I had arrived, I also spoke with the board about Neymar. If you are at United, you have to think big.
Sergio Ramos of Monterrey says goodbye to the fans after the semifinals second leg match between Toluca and Monterrey as part of the Torneo Apertura 2025 Liga MX at Nemesio Diez Stadium on December 6, 2025 in Toluca, Mexico
Sergio Ramos is a free agent after leaving Monterrey(Image: 2025 Jam Media)
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"He was also interesting for the club in terms of selling shirts, and I wanted to have quick wingers. For that reason, I also tried to get Sadio Mane and Riyad Mahrez. Thomas Muller was on my wish list, too, and in central midfield I wanted N’Golo Kante.
"I even tried to sign James Milner, who was already quite old but very multi-functional and possessed leadership skills. For the defence, I wanted Ramos and Mats Hummels, because ours wasn’t the strongest in building from the back.
"Those were my top targets, but we couldn’t get any of them. I don’t know why, because as the manager I wasn’t involved in any negotiations. After I left, players like Mahrez and Kante ended up at Manchester City and Chelsea, while United couldn’t get them. I found that very odd."
With the January transfer window coming up, a defensive acquisition could be on the mind of Ruben Amorim, who has had to contend with injuries to Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt.
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester United at Molineux on December 8, 2025 in Wolverhampton, England.
Man United have lost just one of their last nine league games (Image: 2025 MB Media)
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The fitness record of the recently returning Lisandro Martinez, meanwhile, certainly doesn't make for good reading, with the Argentine making just 61 Premier League appearances despite signing for United in 2022.
Speaking about possible plans to add to his squad, Amorim recently said: "We want to bring players, everyone here, we want to bring players that we can see a big future in Manchester United.
"We are not just buying one guy because now we feel in December that we need this kind of player for now. We want to buy players that we know we are not going to change a lot of times. So that is our idea.
"I don't know what is going to happen. But of course, we think about how we can improve the team, and in January, the window is open, we can do something."