Real Madrid centre-back and France international Raphael Varane has revealed that he rejected the chance to join forces with Jose Mourinho at United this summer.
According to Canal+ (via The Independent), the 23-year-old was wanted by United’s new manager, but preferred to stay in the Spanish capital, at least for the time being.
Varane was given his Real Madrid debut by Jose Mourinho as an 18-year-old back in 2011, and has since grown into one of the finest young defenders in the world.
The Frenchman missed out on this summer’s European Championships through injury, but certainly would have been the linchpin of the French defence had he been fully fit.
Speaking of Manchester United’s interest in him this summer, Varane said:
“Of course it’s flattering, Manchester United are a very big club.” “But from the moment when Madrid and I are in sync on my project, there’s no questions to ask yourself.” “I have always said I feel good in Madrid. It’s not easy to say ‘no’ to Jose Mourinho, but you have to weigh up the pros and the cons.”
“We’re men, we have decisions to make and that’s how it is,” he added.”
It isn’t known whether Varane was wanted by Mourinho as a partner to Eric Bailly in the centre of defence, or whether Bailly was Jose’s back-up plan, but either way, Varane is a strong piece of evidence to suggest that the United boss really knows what he’s doing when it comes to giving young defenders a shot.
