A meeting in China between the Real Madrid club president Florentino Perez, Sergio Ramos and René Ramos, his agent and brother, has ended in a peace treaty in Guangzhou leaving the door open for negotiations back in Madrid.

Drawing a line through recent hostilities both parties say they are going to start again from zero. Ramos’ principal complaint was that Perez was using the press to paint him and his family as money-hungry mercenaries. Contracted until 2017, the club offered the central defender a new deal of €7m a year while the player and his brother want 10.

Ramos’ hand has been strengthened by the criticism Perez received for his poor handling of Iker Casillas’ lonely goodbye, a rushed day-too-late press event at the Bernabeu with Iker posing next to shiny trophies saw fans calling for Perez’ resignation and chanting “Ramos not for sale”.

Benitez has said he is 100% sure that Ramos will stay and now that line looks more assured than ever.