‘What I can promise’ - President issues warning over Man Utd and Barcelona transfer target

The forward has been linked with a move to Old Trafford in recent months.
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Manchester United will have to pay a club record fee if they are to win the race for Portugal World Cup star Goncalo Ramos.

The Benfica forward got his season underway with a stunning hat-trick in a Champions League qualifier win against Danish club FC Midtjylland and that set the tone for a run of form that garnered a remarkable 14 goals and six assists in just 21 appearances. That form saw Ramos rewarded with a call-up to Portugal’s World Cup squad and he made the most of a surprise start at the expense of former United star Cristiano Ronaldo by hitting a hat-trick in a 6-1 hammering of Switzerland in a round-of-16 clash.

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The forward retained his place for the quarter-final meeting with Morocco but was unable to help his side progress after a Youssef En-Nesyri goal saw the Atlas Lions become the first African side to reach the World Cup semi-finals. Despite that disappointment, Ramos remains high on the agenda of several clubs around Europe, with United, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain all said to be keen on a deal - but they have been warned they will have to provide a significant financial outlay to secure his services.

Speaking over the weekend, Benfica president Rui Costa said: “We have the sole objective of having a winning season, no player will leave – unless it is due to the clause – which at this moment is fundamental for the squad. What I can promise our supporters is what I did at the beginning of the year. This is a sporting project, not a financial one. Fortunately, we are not experiencing financial problems and we have no need to sell players.”

Ramos will be back in action when Benfica travel to Braga in their first post-World Cup fixture on the final Friday of December.