Madrid, June 22 (IANS): The problems are mounting for Real Madrid as questions arise about the situation of Spanish central defender Sergio Ramos.

The confusion arose on Friday when Jordi Majo, one of the candidates for the presidency of FC Barcelona, announced that Ramos was a possible signing should he win next month's election at the club, Xinhua reported on Monday.

This supposed offer, which has been denied by Ramos' camp, comes as the defender is in talks to extend his contract at Real Madrid. Ramos' current deal is due to expire in 2017 and unless the club is willing to extend that contract in the near future, they would have to consider selling him cheap in 2016 or risk seeing him leave for nothing in two years.

As such it could be a means of pressuring the club into increasing his wages, but Ramos' situation has apparently been seized on by Manchester United, who know Real want to sign their goalkeeper David de Gea and who see the opportunity of including Ramos in the deal.

The situation is complicated further by Madrid's interest in Valencia defender Nicolas Otamendi, who is also wanted by United.

The Spanish press now openly speculate that Ramos, who along with Iker Casillas and Cristiano Ronaldo are leaders of the dressing room, could abandon Real this summer.

There are also reports that Casillas could also move given that the 34-year-old does not have a good relationship with club president Florentino Perez and is unwilling to spend a year as substitute.

Meanwhile stories that new coach Rafa Benitez wants to give Gareth Bale a role on the left of the Real attack or a free role behind the striker are also rumoured to have annoyed Ronaldo, who has played on the left in recent seasons.

Ronaldo has a contract until 2018, but celebrated his 30th birthday in February and if the club wanted to sell him for around 100 million euros ($110 million) it would have to do so either this summer or in 2016.