Sergio Ramos: 'I never wanted to leave' Real Madrid

Manchester United? Never.

The plan for Sergio Ramos was always to retire with Real Madrid.

The club announced Monday that its captain would remain in the Spanish capital for another five seasons, with Ramos signing an extension that will keep him there until 2020.

"I've never been motivated by money, just happiness and my family," the 29-year-old centre-back told reporters during a special ceremony at the Bernabeu. "I've always wanted to retire here.

"I never wanted to leave."

Ramos had two years left on his previous contract, but the player was reported to be unhappy with the Madrid hierarchy, including president Florentino Perez. The Guardian's Sid Lowe wrote in June that the relationship between the player and club was "extremely tense," with Ramos determined to leave.

United was an option all summer, and they tabled two bids that Madrid eventually turned down.

"If it was an economic decision, I wouldn't have stayed," said Ramos. "There were personal differences we needed to sort."

Perez also appeared to be at peace, calling Ramos "a symbol of madridismo." The celebration was real, as Real Madrid TV played clips of his crucial equaliser - a flying header in the final moments of regular time - in the 2014 Champions League final, according to Spanish newspaper AS.

Ramos, too, was thinking about his legacy.

"The captaincy is a big responsibility," he said. "Hopefully people will speak of me as a Real Madrid legend in the future."

Ramos has spent the past 10 seasons with Madrid after making the move from Sevilla in 2005.