Manchester United transfer target Sergio Ramos had 22 yellow cards at Real Madrid last season - and has been sent off 19 times in his career

The defender has been linked with a £46.5million move to Manchester United

(Getty Images)

Sergio Ramos has been strongly linked with a move to Manchester United this week, unhappy with his lot at Real Madrid.

The Spanish giants value Ramos at around €65million (£46.5m) with Manchester United hoping to make David De Gea, a Real Madrid target, as part of the deal.

Ramos, who is reported to be learning English, is unhappy with the club because he feels he is underpaid and after no one from the hierarchy moved to deny a report that linked him with a move to bitter rivals Barcelona.

It could all be a bluff for Ramos to negotiate better contract terms - much like Dani Alves being linked to Old Trafford last month - but United are now confident as there is not a strong sense Real Madrid want to keep the experienced international.

Ramos is regarded as one of the world's premier centre-backs. At 29 he has spent 10 years as a first choice for both Spain and Real Madrid, winning three Spanish titles, the Copa del Rey twice, the Club World Cup and the Champions League.

Ramos' disciplinary record at Real Madrid

He has been a key member of Vicente Del Bosque's international side, helping Spain become the most dominant team in the world between 2008 and 2012, where they won two European Championships and the World Cup.

But Ramos has a serious weakness in his game, one that could cost him if he was to arrive in the Premier League next season; his short fuse.

The defender has a well documented and lengthy rap sheet on the field, which includes being sent off more times than any player in Real Madrid history.

His red card total stands at a whopping 19, and while he managed to control his temper last season, avoiding red in a season for the first time since 2004-05, he made up for that by being booked a massive 22 times in all competitions for Real (plus once for Spain).

In his 445 Real Madrid games, along with his 19 dismissals Ramos has been booked a total of 157 times, approximately once every 2.8 matches. In comparison Gareth Barry, the most booked player ever in the Premier League, has picked up 105 yellow cards in 562 league matches, one every 5.3 games.

United have made a £30m bid for Sergio Ramos (Getty Images)

Seven of Ramos' 19 red cards have been straight dismissals and the remaining 12 for a second yellow.

Last season, Ramos got 12 La Liga yellow cards, a mark that would have only been beaten by Sunderland midfielder Lee Cattermole, who got booked 14 times in his 28 matches.

Ramos would have almost tripled the amount of bookings of Manchester United's dirtiest player - Ander Herrera was booked a total of eight times last season, with six in the Premier League and two in the FA Cup.

Under Premier League rules Ramos would have only missed one match because of yellow cards, as his last three cards came after the cut off point (the second Sunday of April) that would produce a two-match suspension.

But in since his professional debut in 2004, Ramos has played 622 competitive matches for Sevilla, Real Madrid and Spain and picked up a total of 188 yellow cards and 19 red cards.

Ramos has never been sent off at international level (Getty Images)

Ramos does have a major strength that makes him all the more valuable as a defender - he loves scoring goals.

John Terry is regarded as the most prolific goalscoring defender on these shores in recent years, with 62 goals in 670, a record of one every 10.8 matches. Terry also scored six goals in 78 matches for England.

Ramos' record is as good as you can find. He averages a goal every eight games for Real Madrid, with 55 in just 445 matches, with another 10 in 128 international matches.

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RAMOS' RECORD

Real Madrid total: 157 yellows, 19 reds - 445 apps (55 goals)

Spain: 16 yellows, 0 red - 128 caps (10 goals)

Sevilla: 15 yellows, 0 red - 49 apps (3 goals)

Career total: 188 yellows, 19 reds - 622 matches