ESPN Pundit Craig Burley has stressed that Manchester United are unlikely to lure French defender Raphael Varane from Real Madrid at the end of the season. The centre-back was recruited from Lens during Jose Mourinho’s reign at the Bernabeu, and he became the youngster player ever to win three Champions League titles last year.
Varane has regularly been linked with reunion with Mourinho since the Portuguese’s return to the Premier League, but Burley believes there is absolutely no chance of a transfer happening due to Real Madrid’s stature.
He said on the ESPN FC show, via The Express: “Forget it. Why would you leave Real Madrid to go to Man United? Have you seen them play? Honestly, why would you go to that team at the moment from Real Madrid? Not happening.”
Los Blancos had looked unbeatable during the previous campaign as they clinched their first La Liga and Champions League double in over 50 years. However, the Capital outfit have since had a poor defence of their league title whilst also being knocked out of the Copa del Rey.
Zinedine Zidane is seemingly under-pressure to deliver Champions League success for a third straight season in order to keep his job, and his potentially dismissal could urge Varane to consider a move elsewhere.
Varane has previously talked up a special relationship with Mourinho on and off the field, and only time will tell whether the Portuguese tactician manages to entice the defender to join United, possibly in place of Chris Smalling – whose future has been put in doubt.
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