Raphael Varane Man United transfer: The £41m French defender and what he will bring to Old Trafford

Manchester United have agreed a fee of £41m with Real Madrid for defender Raphael Varane.
BARCELONA, SPAIN - OCTOBER 24: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona runs with the ball amongst Raphael Varane and Nacho Fernandez of Real Madrid CF during the La Liga Santander match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid at Camp Nou on October 24, 2020 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)BARCELONA, SPAIN - OCTOBER 24: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona runs with the ball amongst Raphael Varane and Nacho Fernandez of Real Madrid CF during the La Liga Santander match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid at Camp Nou on October 24, 2020 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - OCTOBER 24: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona runs with the ball amongst Raphael Varane and Nacho Fernandez of Real Madrid CF during the La Liga Santander match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid at Camp Nou on October 24, 2020 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

A move to Old Trafford for Raphael Varane has been speculated all summer and it looks like Manchester United have finally got their man after agreeing a £41m fee with Real Madrid for the Frenchman.

Varane is set to travel to England later this week but Manchester United fans are likely to have to wait a bit longer for confirmation of their third signing of the summer due to quarantine rules.

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is showing his intent ahead of the 2021/22 season after signing a new contract with the club earlier this month, after already bringing in English talent, Jadon Sancho, for £73 million from Borussia Dortmund.

SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN - JUNE 21:  Raphaël Varane of Real Madrid controls the ball during the Liga match between Real Sociedad and Real Madrid CF at Estadio Anoeta on June 21, 2020 in San Sebastian, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN - JUNE 21:  Raphaël Varane of Real Madrid controls the ball during the Liga match between Real Sociedad and Real Madrid CF at Estadio Anoeta on June 21, 2020 in San Sebastian, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN - JUNE 21: Raphaël Varane of Real Madrid controls the ball during the Liga match between Real Sociedad and Real Madrid CF at Estadio Anoeta on June 21, 2020 in San Sebastian, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

If Manchester United can get Varane's move over the line, then they may well have brought in one of the world's biggest young stars and also one of the best defenders in football to the club for less than £120 million - a massive statement from a club looking to challenge for the title in coming seasons.

Who is Raphael Varane?

Born in Lille, Raphael Varane spent the earlier years of his career in France with Lens, making the move up from their academy to the first team at just 17 years old.

The Frenchman was quick to catch the eye of Europe’s biggest clubs and was soon rewarded for his brilliant performances with a huge move to Real Madrid less than a year after making his first team debut for Lens – signing a six-year contract for a reported fee of €10 million.

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It wasn’t long before Varane was making an impression on the eagle-eyed Madrid supporters, scoring with a flying back-heel shot in his second game for the club - making him the youngest foreign player (18 years and 152 days) to score a goal in a competitive match for Los Blancos.

The centre-back continued to impress as a teenager for the La Liga giants – managing to unsettle Pepe in the heart of Real Madrid’s defence. To bench such a key figure and a brilliant servant to Real Madrid at such a young age was so special from the rising star.

With years to go until Varane was at his very best, the defender was named by Marca readers as a member of the “Best foreign eleven in Real Madrid history”.

Varane never stopped improving for Real Madrid and has gone on to make over 350 appearances for the club, whilst also being capped 79 times by France.

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Despite the 28-year-old having a disappointing Euro 2020 tournament, Varane has been vital in his club and country’s success since he arrived on the scene.

The Frenchman has been able to add a World Cup, three league titles and four Champions League medals to his impressive honours list and has become one of the most decorated footballers in the world.

What will Raphael Varane bring to Manchester United?

The arrival of Raphael Varane should finally resolve a long-standing issue in this Manchester United side. The Red Devils have a host of hugely talented players in Bruno Fernandes, Paul Pogba, Edison Cavani and others. In fact, their defensive trio of Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Luke Shaw had a superb 2020/21 season – the latter, in particular. But the second centre-back spot has been a problem for Manchester United for years, with the likes of Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly expected to do a better job than they are capable of - and an injury-prone Bailly often means Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has little option on who he plays alongside Maguire.

The signing of Varane will provide Maguire with a world-class defensive partner to rely on. The Frenchman has been one of the best defenders in the world for years now and, at only 28, is still very much in his prime.

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If Varane can replicate his superb performances for Real Madrid and France when he arrives at Old Trafford, less pressure will be on Harry Maguire and the rest of the team will thrive off knowing they are in safe hands – or feet – at the back.

There is also the psychological benefits for the players, manager and fans knowing they have brought in someone of Varane’s quality and class.

The switch from Real Madrid to Manchester United is not something a player in his prime often does these days. Varane has spent his whole career winning trophies with both his club and country and his eagerness to move to England shows the belief and positivity around the club’s progression under Ole.

The 28-year-old will not want to stop winning titles and cups now and will hopefully bring along the winning mentality Manchester United need with him.

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With Manchester United’s rivals all looking to strengthen their squads this summer, the battle for the Premier League title is looking harder and harder each season. United’s capture of Varane and Sancho may prove vital if they are to challenge for that top spot and may have been too much of an ask if they weren’t too bring in such a brilliant defender.

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