Manchester United will reportedly ask for Raphael Varane to be included in any deal that may see David de Gea go to Real Madrid.
If a report by Spanish publication AS is to be believed, should Real Madrid make yet another move for David de Gea at the end of the current campaign, the Premier League giants will ask that Jose Mourinho’s former prodigy be made a part of the deal and be sent to Old Trafford.
The Portuguese boss is keen to reunite with Varane, having worked with him for 2 seasons at the Bernabeu. The French international moved to Real Madrid in the summer of 2011 from Lens in the summer of 2011 for a mere €10 million, as an 18-year-old.
Under the watchful eyes and guidance of Mourinho, the youngster would go on to become one of the best young defenders in all of Europe. Varane is now a fully fledged French international and first-choice center-back at Real Madrid alongside Sergio Ramos and Mourinho has played a big role in his rise to prominence in recent years.
Varane, now 23, was an integral part of Real Madrid’s Champions League and La Liga campaign before he got sidelined with an injury he picked up in Los Blancos’ loss in their defeat at the hands of Valencia, which is set to keep him out for upto 3 weeks.
The Frenchman’s arrival at Old Trafford would undoubtedly bring a significant upgrade in the quality of United’s defensive ranks. Mourinho could likely form a long term partnership between Varane and Chris Smalling or Eric Bailly in the heart of United’s defence.
Varane was approached by Manchester United last summer, one that he admittedly declined in favour of staying at the Bernabeu.
Portuguese international Pepe is edging closer and closer to a move away from the Bernabeu in the summer after failing to agree a new contract with the club, so it is unlikely that Zidane will allow Varane to follow the 33-year-old out of the club without signing a proper replacement first.
But Real Madrid may be forced to consider this deal if they stand a even the slightest chance of acquiring David de Gea. The Spaniard has long been considered to be the natural heir to the legendary Iker Casillas’ throne at both Real Madrid and the Spanish national team.
While Keylor Navas has done a fairly good job between the posts for the European Champions since arriving in the summer of 2014, De Gea is still the club’s ideal signing and would love to have him at the club and one can expect them to definitely test the waters with another approach.
It is likely that in light De Gea’s uncertainty about his own future and Real Madrid’s interest, that the Red Devils are reported to be preparing an offer for a certain Italian shot-stopper who has the world at his feet and is touted to take Europe by storm.
AC Milan’s young sensation Gianluigi Donnarumma is yet to agree a new deal with the Rossoneri and commit his long term future with the Italian giants and recently, his agent Mino Raiola has stated that his client’s future need not lie in Milan and that deserves to play for a ‘great team’.
He went on to say that until he met Milan’s new Chinese owners and got to conversing with them, he couldn’t have a clear idea about the future.
“Until you see the new ownership and I begin to talk to them I cannot have a clear idea. Does he deserve a great Milan? No, he deserves a great team.”
Apart from Manchester United, Donnarumma has been a rumoured target for other European superpowers such as Manchester City, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus, and Chelsea and his current Milan contract runs until the summer of 2018.
If both the parties don’t come to an agreement in the summer, Donnarumma will likely leave and he will surely have a number a clubs lining up for his signature. Milan can’t risk letting such a huge talent go for free in 2018 and may be forced to sell him at a cut rate price, setting the situation perfectly for a bidding war in the summer.