Chelsea set to test Mourinho resolve with Sergio Ramos bid

Posted Sunday, June 26, 2011 by People.co.uk

ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS is ready to go to war with his mentor Jose Mourinho to sign Sergio Ramos.

New Chelsea boss Villas-Boas has told owner Roman Abramovich that a defender, who can operate anywhere across the back four, is his No.1 priority and he has made the Real Madrid and Spain star his top target.

World Cup winner Ramos is reportedly furious with Bernabeu chiefs after they failed to deliver on their promise of a salary hike and Villas-Boas is keen to pounce.

Real value the 25-year-old, who still has another two years on his contract, at around £80million.

But sources close to the club believe they would give serious consideration to offers of around half that figure. Villas-Boas will tell Abramovich that is good value for a player who could form the backbone of the Chelsea side for many years.

Ramos’ brother and agent, Rene, said: “Sergio merits better treatment at Real because of the work he has done and his quality.

“It is normal that his talent has been recognised by foreign clubs. We have received calls and inquiries but it is in the hands of Real.”

Ramos is paid about £2.8m a year by Madrid but wants an annual rise of some £2m to bring him in line with the Spanish club’s other top earners.

Chelsea’s move for the player is sure to infuriate former Stamford Bridge chief Mourinho.

The pair fell out when Villas-Boas, once described by Mourinho as his “eyes and ears”, quit Inter Milan to become a manager in his own right at Portuguese side Academica.

Mourinho does not want to lose Ramos, but a huge bid from Chelsea will put the decision firmly in the hands of the Bernabeu money men.

Real paid around £20m to take Ramos from Sevilla six years ago and since then he has made 195 appearances for the club and has been capped 76 times by Spain.