Ahead of Manchester United’s Champions League tie against Real Madrid in 2013, Sergio Ramos revealed that his father was a United fan.

Ramos has two years remaining on his current with Real Madrid but is unhappy with the offer on the table, sparking rumours that United may try and sign him when negotiating a deal for David de Gea.

My dad used to watch a lot of football and he would say to me when I was a kid: “So and so is playing today. You have to watch this player or that player”. [My father supported] United. My family are Sevilla fans but he always had a soft spot for Manchester United. I was pleased to get United. If you look at the history and the philosophy they transmit they are to the Premier League what Madrid are in Spain. The ideals that they drum into their players are similar.