KEY POINTS

  • Real Madrid is prepared to move on from Raphael Varane
  • Manchester United is expected to sign him
  • He will potentially be a co-captain alongside Harry Maguire

It’s official! Real Madrid has officially given up on re-signing Raphael Varane, and Manchester United has a wide-open shot to sign the French defender.

According to reports, Real Madrid had only sent out one contract extension offer to Varane, but he and his agents have not been entertaining any extension talks as he had his focus squarely placed on the French national team for the 2020 European Championship.

Real Madrid now understands that this is a subtle way for him to say that he’s not interested in staying at Bernabeu.

There has been no progress in the talks since France was booted from the tournament by Switzerland in the group of 16.

The onus is on Real Madrid to sell the defender while they still have the opportunity to get the most financial returns this transfer window.

For Manchester United, this is the opportunity that they’ve been waiting for. They’ve been chasing Varane for 10 years now as the Red Devils tried to sign him back in 2011 before he opted to join Real Madrid.

Reports say that Manchester United approached Real Madrid and they have since made it clear that they will not be paying in excess of £50 million ($69.3 million) for the center-back.

His contract will be expiring by next summer and Real Madrid might have to see another star defender leave the club as Sergio Ramos has opted to sign with Ligue 1 runner-ups Paris Saint-Germain.

Varane has also been given the green light from Real Madrid's management to talk to other clubs, but there have been no transfer demands as of now, according to 90min.

Sources close to the situation have also said that “There is still an element of caution, but talks with the player’s representatives are going well and they are hopeful and excited in equal measure – they can see the finish line.”

Should Manchester United be able to sign Varane, they’ll be having an extremely potent defensive line of him, Victor Lindelof, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Luke Shaw and team captain Harry Maguire, who will finally be having a player who can co-captain alongside him.

Real Madrid