Manchester United target Sergio Ramos travels with Real Madrid for pre-season tour to Australia as transfer saga continues

• Sergio Ramos has been strongly linked with a move to Manchester United
• Despite the saga, the defender has been named in squad for Australia tour
• Madrid play Roma and Manchester City in International Champions Cup 
• They then move on to China when they face Inter Milan and AC Milan 
• Cristiano Ronaldo and James Rodriguez are absent from Madrid's squad

By Matt Maltby For Mailonline

Published: 06:45 EST, 12 July 2015 | Updated: 10:41 EST, 13 July 2015

Sergio Ramos has been named in the Real Madrid squad for their pre-season tour which begins in Australia despite ongoing uncertainty over his future in Spain.

The star defender has been strongly linked with a move to Manchester United and the La Liga giants knocked back the Premier League club's opening bid of £28.3million.

Despite the speculation, Ramos returned to Madrid training this weekend and the club confirmed he will travel with the squad for their International Champions Cup appearance. 

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Sergio Ramos, pictured with Jese Rodriguez, has been named in Real Madrid's squad for their pre-season tour

Manchester United target Sergio Ramos (right) returned to training with his Madrid team-mates this weekend

Jese looked happy with the travel arrangements as the star-studded Real Madrid squad headed Down Under

Ramos' team-mate Jese Rodriguez tweeted a picture of the pair with the caption: 'Heading to Australia to continue training hard!'

Sportsmail understands the Spain international told Real officials that he wants to depart the Bernabeu ahead of the new season with two years left on his current contract.

However, new manager Rafa Benitez has decided to take the defender on the pre-season trip where the club will face Roma and Manchester City.

The team then move on to China where they go up against Serie A giants Inter Milan and AC Milan later in the month. 

Opera singer and Real Madrid fan Placido Domingo (left) made a visit to the Real squad's training session

Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale (right) has vowed to rediscover his best form next season 

Ramos will be bidding to win the friendly tournament which the Red Devils won last season after beating Liverpool in the final. 

New signing Danilo and Norwegian teenager Martin Odegaard were also named in the squad, while Cristiano Ronaldo and James Rodriguez were notable absentees.

With United leaking 37 goals in the Premier League last term, they have made defensive reinforcements one of their top priorities this summer and Spain international Ramos fits the bill perfectly. 

Madrid are interested in signing United's goalkeeper David de Gea and there has been plenty of speculation that Ramos could be in line for some sort of part-exchange deal as a makeweight.  

Ramos joined Madrid from Sevilla in 2005 and has since gone on to be a key player in the first-team picture, winning multiple trophies.

Despite the ongoing speculation, Ramos is expected to play a role in his current club's preparation as they bid for success following a trophyless campaign last season.

Could these be Sergio Ramos' last training sessions at Real?

Jese Rodriguez (left) prepares to challenge Martin Odegaard (right) during Madrid's training session 

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