Three reasons why Raphael Varane could leave Real Madrid for Man Utd or Liverpool

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 19 May 2021 15:11 BST
• 3 min read

Raphael Varane’s future at Real Madrid looks to be in the balance, with Manchester United and Liverpool both linked with the France international centre-back.

It has not been an easy campaign for the 28-year-old, although he has remained a regular in Zinedine Zidane’s plans.

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Varane has feature in 30 of the 36 league games that Madrid have played this season, missing a couple due to Covid-19 and a couple due to a recent leg injury, while remaining an ever present in the Champions League when fit.

And yet his stock has fallen and he could seek an exit to the Premier League in the summer.

With Sergio Ramos potentially leaving the Bernabeu, it would represent a blow to the side from the Spanish capital.

Here are three reasons why it could happen.

Real Madrid’s finances

Real Madrid might not be in the financial blackhole that Barcelona find themselves in – but they are not far away from it. The collapse of the Super League project has hastened this problem. Although the general price of players in the transfer market has depreciated, selling to a club like Man Utd or Liverpool, they could still recoup a healthy fee for Varane.

Instead of buying a big-name replacement, a better value option could be sought. This may even give them the ability to strengthen other areas of their panel.

Militao’s emergence

Eder Militao is finally looking like the €50 million defender that Real Madrid thought they were getting when they signed him from Porto in 2019, and it is now feasible that Los Blancos could go forward with the Brazilian as one of their defensive starters.

With Nacho also in good form, notably impressing against Liverpool in the Champions League, Madrid do have the basis of a solid defensive still in place.

Varane has a year left on his contract

Raphael Varane has spent his entire career at Real Madrid, and after 10 years at the Bernabeu, there appears to be a sense that he wants to try a new challenge in his career. The Premier League represents the obvious one, particularly at a super club like Liverpool or Real Madrid.

Rather than risk losing him for nothing in 12 months, it makes smarter business sense for Madrid to cut their losses now rather than labour on with a player not entirely fulfilled at the club.