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Manchester United tried to sign Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane this summer, but the Frenchman has elected to stay with the European champions, despite being offered more money to move to Old Trafford, according to reports in Spain.
COPE is reporting that Manchester United offered Raphael Varan wages of €10 million per season to join them this summer, doubling what he currently earns at Real Madrid. But, after talking with manager Zinedine Zidane, Varane decided to stay at the Bernabéu.
Varane, who missed the recent UEFA European Championship in his home country due to injury, has been handed the number 5 jersey for Los Blancos this season, the same squad number that Zidane wore during his legendary spell in Madrid.
United have already signed one central defender this summer, with the £30 million capture of 22-year-old Ivory Coast international Eric Bailly from Villarreal.
But it is believed that new United manager José Mourinho is keen to bring in an experienced partner for Bailly, and, having worked with Varane when in charge of Madrid, he identified the 23-year-old as the man for the job.
Following Varane’s snub, the Red Devils could be about to turn their attention to a move for Southampton’s 32-year-old captain José Fonte, in a deal that would be worth around 310 million.
But Mourinho has been told that he must first clear out some of the players who are considered surplus to requirements in order to reduce the club’s heft wage bill.
Marcos Rojo, Phil Jones and Matteo Darmian all face uncertain Old Trafford futures.
Written by Ryan Baldi
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