Real Madrid center-back Raphael Varane ‘wants to join’ Manchester United this summer after making the decision not to sign a new contract with Los Blancos.
Varane has only one year left to his current deal and it has been known for a while that the Frenchman, who joined Real Madrid as a teenager 10 years ago and has won three La Liga titles and four Champions League, is looking for a new challenge.
Madrid were reported to have offered Varane a new contract with a salary increase in May, while their desire to keep him has only increased since then after failing to agree a new contract with Sergio Ramos and being forced to let the long-term captain go.
Club president Florentino Perez has denied personal talks with Varane yet and insists the club will look to address any renewals of the contract after Euro 2020.
Varane has one year left on his Real Madrid contract and does not want to sign a new contract / Denis Doyle / Getty Images
But whether Perez and Real like it or not, Varane’s mind already looks. What’s more, if he refuses to sign a new contract because he wants to challenge himself elsewhere, a cash-strapped Real will have no choice but to sell him this summer if they are not prepared to lose a valuable player on a free transfer in one year. ‘when his business expires.
A recent report in Spain claimed that Varane was looking to move back to France, where Paris Saint-Germain would be his only realistic option. However, The Independent now writes that the 2018 World Cup winner chooses United instead and says that his preference is the Premier League.
United have long tracked down Sevilla’s Jules Kounde and Villarreal’s Pau Torres, but the opportunity to write a midfielder of Varane’s reputation as a long-term partner for Harry Maguire may be well missed. Ex-captain Gary Neville has publicly supported a hunt more than once.
The Old Trafford club are believed to have started exploring a deal for Varane as early as April, after first being encouraged to leave Real.
Man Utd is looking for a long-term partner for Harry Maguire / Pool / Getty Images
At 28, Varane was older than the players United have usually targeted in recent summers but can still prove to be a long-term asset. The club only needs to look at Sergio Ramos and Thiago Silva for example of top defenders playing at the highest level well into the mid 30’s.
It would also give him the chance to reunite with France’s international international Paul Pogba at club level and, plus the expected arrival of Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund, in turn could help convince Pogba to sign his own contract.
United wanted to sign Varane 10 years ago when he made the breakthrough at Lens. He chose Real Madrid at the time but United have still been linked with him more or less since then.
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