Real Madrid could repeat Kepa trick to sign Varane

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 18 Dec 2023 14:56 GMT
• 3 min read

If Real Madrid decided to bring back Raphael Varane, it would benefit almost all parties.

David Alaba is likely to be out until the end of the season with an ACL tear - meaning that Los Blancos will have to look at defensive reinforcements ahead of the upcoming window.

Varane spent the majority of his career with Los Blancos and has an emotional connection to the club. He joined the side from Lens in 2011 and played 360 games across ten seasons.

Varane’s abilities are still there to see - his performance against Liverpool on Sunday proved that he can defend against some of the world’s elite forwards.

Kepa Arrizabalaga made the move back to Spain following a mixed tenure at Chelsea. He has done well so far as a stand-in for the injured Thibaut Courtois. Real Madrid could apply the same approach for Varane.

Erik ten Hag is not a huge fan of Varane for whatever reason. MEN have reported that he would like to remain at Old Trafford for the coming years, with the hope that the club activate the one-year extension inserted into his deal.

When is Varane’s contract up?

Varane’s contract expires in June 2024 and the Red Devils have the option of an additional year. When Varane completed his £42million transfer from Real Madrid in 2021, the club mistakenly claimed that he was contracted to the club until 2025 with the option of a one-year extension.

It means that he has just under seven months left on his deal and clubs would be able to sign him on a pre-contract agreement in January.

Under the stewardship of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the club will be endeavoring to bring in new talent at a younger age and strip away those in their veteran years on high wages.

Varane is on a contract worth £350,000 - making him one of the highest-paid centre-backs in Europe.

If Real Madrid did look to bring him back, it could solve a lot of problems for all those involved.

Varane might have played well against Liverpool, but it makes more pragmatic sense to move him on.