Bharath Rammr
Jose Mourinho has reportedly held talks with Real Madrid over the transfer of Raphael Varane. The French defender is not among the first choice central defensive options at Real Madrid with manager Zinedine Zidane sticking with the tried and tested combination of Sergio Ramos and Pepe. This has left the French defender high and dry for first team opportunities. Mourinho is a huge fan of Varane, a player who was brought to Madrid when he was the manager of the club. In the past, he has spoken highly of the player and continues to hold him in high regard.
The availability of the 24-year-old is thought to have been a key reason behind the United dropping their pursuit of Victor Lindelof in the January transfer window. The Benfica defender was close to joining United in a £38million deal, but Mourinho reportedly prefers Varane. Aware that the French defender wants a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer, Mourinho has reportedly opened negotiations with the club. Varane’s contract runs out in June 2020 and he has not signed a new contract after his last extension in September 2014.
Capable of playing on either side of the central defence, Varane will be a quality addition to the Manchester United squad. Jose Mourinho is least pleased with his centre-half options at the club, and it was once again apparent a few days ago, when he questioned the commitment of Chris Smalling and Phil Jones. Both players were unable to feature in the Manchester derby due to injuries, but Mourinho claimed that it was possible for both players to have played through the pain barrier considering the massive importance of the game.
The availability of the Champions League may not be a huge hindrance with regard to signing Varane, as the player is known to be a huge fan of Mourinho’s coaching methods. After the goalless draw with Manchester City, United remain one point behind the top four. However, they have played a game less than Liverpool, who are 2 points ahead in the table. Qualifying for the Champions League is extremely important for the club not just in terms of the attractiveness to the players, but in terms of the sponsorship revenue.
United can still qualify for the competition by winning the Europa League, and they face Celta de Vigo in the semi-finals of the competition.
