Stats: How Sergio Ramos compares with Man United defenders Phil Jones and Chris Smalling
Rumours that Man United will splash out on Sergio Ramos have gathered pace this week, so it's worth considering how the Spaniard's stats shape up against the defenders already at Louis van Gaal's disposal.
Unsurprisingly, the technically gifted Madrid star outperformed Phil Jones and Chris Smalling with his pass completion last season, and there's little doubt he would add much needed grace to United's back four.
What makes Ramos particularly special is his ability to perform the more physical tasks with just as much success. This is not always the case with players from the continent, but Ramos boasts a unique bullishness and tenacity that suggests he would flourish in the Premier League.
He won more aerial duels and performed more successful blocks than Jones and Smalling, fared slightly worse than Jones with tackles won and interceptions, and worse than both Jones and Smalling on clearances.
This doesn't necessarily suggest Ramos is less capable at these tasks, but perhaps more so that Man United's defenders were placed under more pressure than Madrid's dominant, ball-playing Galacticos.
There's little doubt United's back four were presented with more opportunities to make clearances and interceptions than Madrid, who were far more dominant in Spain last term.
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