Ancelotti agrees to the return of Real Madrid 30-year-old former player
It is now official, given the long-term injuries of Militao and Alaba, Madrid has activated the search to sign a center back. Real Madrid is in no hurry in this regard, and wants to carefully assess the options it has until the market closes before February 1.
But, in any case, the needs of the team mean that the profile being looked at is that of an experienced central defender who serves as a temporary solution and who can perform in the competition at the most demanding level. From the first moment.
One of the names that has emerged first is that of Raphael Varane (30 years old), who does not He spends his best moments at Manchester United, to whom Real Madrid sold him in 2021 for 40 million euros.
The reality is that Varane’s name has not yet been officially put on the table in the Valdebebas offices. But there is an important nuance. As this newspaper has learned, he would be welcomed by the coaching staff, who know him well. The Frenchman played a total of 69 games for Real Madrid under the leadership of Carlo Ancelotti. Among them, the final of the Champions League in Lisbon, which he played in full.
There is some confusion regarding Varane’s contractual situation at United. The Frenchman has not had an easy career there and has always been highly questioned by the fans. In two and a half seasons he has been injured for a whopping 174 days, and in total he has missed 38 games. The most serious was shortly after starting in Manchester, November 2021. A thigh injury took 50 days to heal.
But even with the handicap of his fragility (something that is not new for Real Madrid), Ancelotti welcomes his incorporation. Not only because Varane is already fully proven in the elite and is a veteran hardened in a thousand battles (also, world champion with France), but because he would not need any time to adapt to Real Madrid.
On the other hand, for the white club it would be a good operation, since they sold him for 40 million when the player was fully amortized and now they could take him to a Very lower price, who knows, maybe even free.
In recent days, The Athletic published that Varane’s contract actually ends this summer. Although it was announced that Varane signed with United until 2025, the final season is optional. Something similar to what happened with Mbappé. In this way, the Frenchman would have one and a half seasons left in Manchester.
On the other hand, The Guardian revealed that the Frenchman is one of the players that United’s owners want to sell along with Casemiro, Jadon Sancho, Anthony Martial, Donny van de Beek. The main obstacle for Varane to end up at Real Madrid is the high salary he now has, 15 million euros. This would place him in the first salary step of Real Madrid. When he left, he was earning eight million net.
Source: AS
