Pranav Nair
Real Madrid resigned to losing Raphael Varane amidst Manchester United interest
According to The Athletic (Subscription Required), Real Madrid is resigned to losing Raphael Varane this summer amidst interest from Manchester United.
United are long-term admirers of the 28-year-old and have earmarked him as a candidate to partner skipper Harry Maguire in defence. The Frenchman is in the final year of his contract and could be available for free next summer.
This significantly weakens Real Madrid’s hand when it comes to negotiations for the defender. Sergio Ramos is set to leave the club this month and Varane could very well follow him soon after.
According to the report, the Spanish giants are certain that Varane is seeking a new challenge after a decade at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Frenchman rejected an offer of a two-year extension to his contract and his representatives have already informed Madrid of his wishes.
Florentino Perez has already informed new boss Carlo Ancelotti that Varane could be sold if a tempting offer comes in for him. Los Blancos are eyeing a move for Kylian Mbappe and will need to raise the funds needed to land the French superstar.
They plan to do so by selling first-team stars and slashing their wage bill. While Real are keen to get top dollar for Varane, his contract situation and willingness to leave gives them a weak hand in negotiations.
Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea are also interested in Varane. United however are the frontrunners for his signature and could land him for an amount between £40m and £45m. Slightly expensive for a soon-to-be free agent, Varane is worth the price nevertheless.
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Varane’s spell at Real has been largely successful, with him winning four Champions Leagues and three La Liga titles. While Ancelotti is keen for the player to stay put, he is well aware of the financial predicament the club is in. This could very well be the green light for United to make their move.
