[image_0The Santiago Bernabeu chief has revealed
Sergio Ramos was not the only Blancos star
on Louis van Gaal's list of summer transfer
targets
Manchester United were pursuing Gareth
Bale, Karim Benzema and Raphael Varane in
the summer transfer window, according to
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.
The Old Trafford club's pursuit of Sergio
Ramos earlier this summer was widely
reported, with the defender ultimately
choosing to stay at the Santiago Bernabeu
and extend his contract.
But Perez has revealed that Louis van Gaal
had his eye on three additional Madrid stars,
all of whom ignored advances from clubs to
remain with Rafael Benitez's men for
2015-16.
“We know that United showed interest in
Bale, Benzema and Varane,” Perez told
Cadena Ser .
Bale has been linked with Manchester United
for almost a year, with his troublesome
second season at Madrid causing some to
speculate he would return to England two
years after leaving Tottenham for €100
million.
But that La Liga-to-Premier League move
never materialised, with France international
Benzema also rejecting any suggestions he
might leave the Spanish capital for interested
suitors Arsenal.Varane has been linked with United since he
was a highly-rated prospect at Lens, but
Zinedine Zidane's presence at Madrid helped
the club beat their Champions League rivals
to his signing in 2011.
With the Madrid trio all staying put, United
turned their attention to Monaco on deadline
day when they signed teenage forward
Anthony Martial in a move that could
eventually be worth an estimated £59m.
The Red Devils also signed Memphis Depay,
Bastian Schweinsteiger, Morgan Schneiderlin,
Matteo Darmian and Sergio Romero in a busy
transfer window.
The 2012-13 Premier League champions sit
fifth in the table after four matches, with
Manchester City, Crystal Palace, Leicester
City and Swansea City ahead of them.