Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is keen on a reunion with former protege and Real Madrid star Raphael Varane in the summer.
Manchester United are desperate to sign Real Madrid’s defensive mainstay Raphael Varane in the summer, as per a report from Spanish outlet Don Balon.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is understood to be gearing up for a summer shopping spree as he prepares his team to close the gap to Premier League champions and arch rivals Manchester City. And the Portuguese tactician has reportedly identified Varane as a crucial target to help achieve the club’s targets next season.
It was Mourinho who gave Varane his first team debut at Real Madrid, after the Frenchman joined the Merengues from Lens back in 2011. And since then, the 25-year old has come a long way, establishing himself as one of the most promising defenders in Europe.
A key member of the Madrid side under Zinedine Zidane, Varane has made over 230 appearances for the Spanish capital club and has gone on to win a number of major honours including three UEFA Champions League trophies and two La Liga titles. In the ongoing campaign, the France international has taken the field 43 appearances across all competitions, registering two assists in the process.
While Zidane is a huge admirer of his compatriot, the same cannot be said about Real Madrid president Florentino Perez. The report from Don Balon claims that the club supremo would like to see Barcelona centre-half Samuel Umtiti at Santiago Bernabeu and as a result, would be open to selling Varane in the summer.
And Manchester United are hoping to capitalize on this situation as they look to strengthen their ranks ahead of the next campaign. Mourinho is believed to be unhappy with his defensive personnel, considering the inconsistent displays from the likes of Chris Smalling and Phil Jones, while Victor Lindelof, who the club signed only in the last summer, has found it hard to settle down in the Premier League.
While Varane hasn’t had the best of the seasons for Los Blancos this time out, he would help Manchester United shore things up at the back to a great extent. Just 25 years of age, the Frenchman has his best years ahead of him and has gained a lot of experience at the topmost level, making him an enticing prospect for Mourinho and the Red Devils.
It was reported earlier that Madrid would be open to the prospect of selling the 41-time capped French international for a fee in the region of €60 million. And given the current state of the transfer market, that would represent a very good deal for United, for a player who is a three-time Champions League winner.
