Real Madrid give ‘green light’ to Varane over Man Utd transfer

Real Madrid have given Raphael Varane permission to negotiate his departure from the club amid interest from Man Utd, according to reports in Spain.

With only a year remaining on his current deal at the Bernabeu it looks likely that Varane will leave Real in the summer transfer window.

The Spanish club are understood to have a contract offer on the table for the France international but Varane wants a new challenge elsewhere.

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There have been rumours over the last week that Varane wants a deal wrapped up before he has to resume pre-season training with Real Madrid, while it has been reported that Man Utd are on the ‘final offensive’ for the defender.

A centre-back to partner Harry Maguire is understood to be one of the Red Devils main priorities now they have sealed a deal for Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho.

And Varane has emerged as their top target with Villarreal’s Pau Torres and Sevilla’s Jules Kounde now seemingly back-up options if a deal for the Real Madrid defender falls through.

Marca (via Sport Witness) says Man Utd is set to be Varane’s ‘main destination’ if he leaves the Bernabeu this summer as the centre-back ‘continues with his future in the air’.

With Varane on holiday nothing has been finalised but the Spanish newspaper claims that ‘right now, the most likely option’ is for the 28-year-old to leave Real.

Real are looking to bring cash into the club this summer and that means the La Liga giants have given Varane the ‘green light’ to negotiate a move away from the club.

Meanwhile, Rio Ferdinand has told Man Utd fans what to expect from Varane if he ends up moving to Old Trafford.

“He brings an absolute winning mentality,” Ferdinand said on his ‘Vibe with Five’ YouTube channel. “I think he’s played in 14 finals and won 14. So there’s an absolute winning mentality. He knows how to win, he’s got great experience and he’s an unbelievable specimen by the way.

“I’ve been saying alongside Maguire he needs someone with some pace the way Man United play.

“When I’ve seen Man United in problems and in trouble in games, a lot of the time teams have been given a bit of confidence. They can see a chink in the armour of Man United. People know if they can get people one v one or play the ball over the defence, into one of the channels and then it’s a race.

“We haven’t had the players quick enough to do that in the centre-back areas. If you get someone like him, people start thinking ‘well we ain’t gonna play the ball over the top. Varane is gonna eat that up.’

“Someone like him, he’ll bring that authority I hope to the back line.”