Real Madrid Transfer News: Raphael Varane Talks Jose Mourinho, Manchester United

Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane has revealed he turned down the chance to join Manchester United this summer, although he said it was not a straightforward decision.

The France international is considered one of the best centre-backs in world football, but manager Zinedine Zidane omitted him from key matches last term. Even so, speaking with Canal+ (h/t Get French Football News), Varane stated remains committed to the cause at the Santiago Bernabeu despite interest from elsewhere:

"

It is flattering. Manchester is a very big club. But as Madrid and I continue to be in the process of my project, I do not even ask the question. I have always said that I feel good in Madrid. It is not easy to say no to [Mourinho] but you have to weigh up the pros and the cons. We are men, we have decisions to make and it is like that.

"

Varane and Mourinho have worked together previously. The Portuguese coach was in charge of Los Blancos when the centre-back joined the club from RC Lens in 2011, and he turned in some outstanding performances under the manager’s guidance.

Here is a reminder of why Varane is so highly rated (warning: NSFW language):

With Pepe and Sergio Ramos a longstanding and effective pair in central defence at the Bernabeu, the temptation must have been there for Varane to consider moving. After all, he’s no longer a capricious upstart with a lot to learn; he’s 23 years old and has been at one of the biggest clubs in world football for five years.

As noted OptaCan, Varane has featured in plenty of UEFA Champions League matches despite his tender years:

"

5- Five youngest players with min 30 apps in Euro competition since 10-11:
Kovacic 30
Draxler 43@Ad8mmaher 30
Varane 41
Pogba 41.
Janissary

— OptaCan (@OptaCan) September 1, 2016"

Mourinho would be an ideal mentor for Varane, and while United may not be playing elite-level European football this season, the intention is there. Signings such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan are indicative of the Red Devils' ambition under their new boss.

United also landed Eric Bailly, who has performed superbly since his move from Villarreal in the summer. He has the potential to be a long-term linchpin in the United defence, a role Mourinho may have earmarked for Varane before the Frenchman opted to stay in the Spanish capital.

Here’s a look at how the Madrid star compared with Bailly in LaLiga matches last season:

	Bailly	Varane
Apps (Sub)	25	23 (3)
Goals	0	0
Tackles per game	1.8	1.5
Interceptions per game	2.6	1.7
Clearances per game	4.7	4.7
Blocks per game	0.6	0.8
Passing accuracy	76.9 %	88.2 %

Varane is certainly set for a critical campaign. He has all the tools to be one of the best centre-backs in the world for the foreseeable future, and he’ll be keen to show off those attributes in the biggest games.

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

That’s not something Zidane gave him the chance to do to frequently after taking over, though the player's fitness issues also contributed to his absence from April's Clasico showdown with Barcelona, both legs of the Champions League semi-final with Manchester City and the final itself against Atletico Madrid.

For a while, Varane has been expected to take over for Pepe and forge a partnership with Ramos, but a combination of some iffy performances from the 23-year-old and excellent displays from the Portuguese have stalled that process. The France international must ensure this season is the one in which he blooms at the Santiago Bernabeu.