The Mataro businessman rules out the idea of including the Real Madrid defender in his election campaign but has plans to bring back Michael Laudrup as sporting director
Barcelona presidential candidate Jordi Majo claims that he was offered Sergio Ramos by an intermediary as an "electoral asset" - but has ruled out the possibility of using the Real Madrid star as part of his campaign.
Majo made the admission as he staked his claim to assume power at Camp Nou ahead of the election on July 18.
The Mataro businessman – who also outlined his plans to install Michael Laudrup as the club's sporting director – dismissed the offer out of hand and claimed that it was part of a ploy to get Ramos a new, improved deal at Madrid.
He told reporters: "We were offered him, roughly a month-and-a-half ago. I don't know if anyone else [another presidential candidate] was offered him but we are not going to play that game. We will not be a reason for him and his brother to increase their pay at Real Madrid.
"If another candidate has been offered him and accepted, that's their problem, but we totally ruled it out."
Majo is an outsider in the election race behind two men who have held the role previously – Josep Maria Bartomeu and Joan Laporta.
That has not stopped him putting plans in place, with former Barca and Madrid midfielder Laudrup having already agreed a deal to oversee the football side.
He added: "I have chosen Laudrup as sporting director on the person, not the name. He is intelligent, has experience of the culture of the club and gets along well with [Johan] Cruyff.
"His Real Madrid past is not important because I know he has Barcelona in his heart.
Laudrup recently left Qatari club Lekhwiya after one season and his agent, Bayram Tutumlu, confirmed that the Dane had agreed a deal with Majo.
Tutumlu told tipsbladet.dk: "It's true, he has signed and will be sporting director if Majo wins the election. He will have responsibility for all the sporting matters in Barcelona, from the academy to the first team."
Tutumlu admitted there were no other offers currently on the table for his client but that he was not concerned.
"I don't know the future but a lot of people want Michael Laudrup," he continued. "Michael is skilled so it does not worry me."
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