Reports coming out of Spain suggest that Real Madrid’s board are not looking at re-signing Raphael Varane in the January transfer window despite Carlo Ancelotti’s keenness to be reunited with the Frenchman.
Real Madrid are facing an injury crisis in the middle of their defence with Eder Militao and David Alaba both set for lengthy stints on the sidelines after suffering Cruciate ligament tears. Antonio Rudiger and Nacho Fernandez are theoretically their only fit first-team centre-halves for the next couple of months, so there will need to be some movement in the market from Los Blancos next month.
Varane, who signed for Manchester United from Real Madrid in 2021, is among those being linked with a switch to the Santiago Bernabeu. According to AS Diario, Varane is keen to return to the Spanish capital while Ancelotti is eager to work with the four-time Champions League winner again.
The report adds that his £340,000 a week salary at Old Trafford isn’t thought to be an obstacle for the La Liga outfit either. Yet Marca claims the Real Madrid board hasn’t even considered a move for Varane.
It had been thought that 21-year-old centre-back Rafa Marin – who is on loan at Alaves – could return to Los Blancos this winter to help ease tensions at the back, but Real Madrid have reportedly ‘not moved a finger’ in recent days.
Real Madrid’s scouts are hard at work trying to identify potential signings to bolster their defensive line, however, none of the options being presented to President Florentino Perez have ‘seduced’ him as of yet.
Despite losing many of their key first-team players through injury this season, Ancelotti insists his squad is more than capable enough to cope with it. “These injuries have affected us a bit, but this squad is well constructed,” Ancelotti said in a press conference on Saturday ahead of Madrid’s La Liga clash against Cadiz. “We’ve been competitive without Militao, Courtois, Vinicius and Bellingham.
“We have all the confidence in the world. We see this as an opportunity to show how good we are, and how good the other players in this squad are.”
