• Ramos ends speculation about move to Manchester United • If it was an economic decision I wouldn’t have stayed’

Sergio Ramos has signed a five-year deal at Real Madrid, while insisting he never wanted to leave. The 29-year-old World Cup winner had been linked with Manchester United for most of the summer but has committed to Real until 2020.

Ramos has also been made the club captain after Iker Casillas’ departure. He announced his new deal alongside the Real president, Florentino Pérez, and said he was never looking to leave the Bernabéu.

“I know this renewal has taken a while but my heart and head have always been with Real Madrid so I couldn’t be happier. I’ve never spoken about my renewal. With a contract that had two years to go, whatever the press want to say I respect but the reality is a bit different.

“My idea was to always be here and I always wanted to retire here if the president would allow it, and I’m thankful I have a new challenge to be the captain of this team. The priority is always Real Madrid, keeping our fans happy and winning titles.

“I’m being honest I never said I wanted to leave, I was quiet. I never said anything out of respect for my team-mates and the president, I never rang the office to ask for more money. I’m just very happy that I have renewed and I want to stay here for the rest of my career.

“I have been here almost my whole life. My first year was in Sevilla and the rest of my life has been here, that is sufficient motive to want to stay. There is nothing like this institution. My own happiness is the priority, in the end that was fundamental.”

United were reportedly ready to offer Ramos a pay rise in a bid to lure him to Old Trafford after he was identified as one of Louis van Gaal’s main transfer targets. But, having been a Real Madrid player for a decade, Ramos said money is not his main concern.

“Honestly, if it was an economic decision I wouldn’t have stayed,” he said. “It wasn’t a question of money. There were personal and professional things that I needed to organise and that is all sorted.

“It is reality that I wasn’t happy in certain ways. I never said I wanted to leave but I spoke to the people I needed to speak to and couldn’t continue how I was. Those personal things were nothing to do with money.

“The economic situation, the president and I solved that in five minutes. There were other things to talk about – past, present and future. Now everything is cleared up I’m excited to get everyone together to try to win. Everything is cleared up now, I’m very happy to be here.”