He’s won everything there is to win at the age of 25
Raphaël Varane’s time at Real Madrid looks to be drawing to an end, after the Frenchman told the club he wants to leave this summer, according to El Chiringuito, a well connected football show on Spanish TV. They are reporting that it would cost any side €100m – just half his release clause – to acquire his services.
🚨NOTICIA #JUGONES | Varane ya LE HA COMUNICADO al Madrid que QUIERE SALIR en VERANO. Su VENTA estarÃa CERCA de los 100 MILLONES. pic.twitter.com/rVbc52UD3k
— El Chiringuito TV (@elchiringuitotv) April 1, 2019
Varane broke through into Madrid’s first team squad at the tender age of 17, but had to bide his time before nailing down a starting position, with veteran defender Pepe blocking his path. But since making that spot his own, he Varane has won all there is to win at Real Madrid: Two LaLiga titles, one Copa del Rey, four Champions League titles, and a World Cup with France to top things off.
Now, he fancies a new challenge. Despite his strong relationship with Zinedine Zidane, who convinced him to join the club from Lens as a teenager, Varane feels now is the time to move on and try to conquer the world for a second time with a different team.
So, where could he go? Manchester United is an obvious choice – they have been linked with Varane as recently as last summer, and are in need of a world class defender to partner Victor Lindelof. They will, though, face competition from the rest of Europe’s elite.
Paris Saint-Germain is a logical destination for Varane, with Thiago Silva likely to depart the club at the age of 34. There is of course the obvious French connection, too.
Juventus are likely to throw their hat in the ring too, with their long-serving defence of Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli 31, 34 and 37 years of age respectively. Varane’s availability is a great opportunity to inject some youth and pace into the Old Lady’s defence.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, will not be desperate to sign a replacement having already confirmed the signing of Eder Militao from FC Porto – the first signing of Zidane’s second spell in charge.
