Manchester United is reported to have rekindled an interest in Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane, but Goal understands Zinedine Zidane is unlikely to give him up without a fight.
United was among a number of clubs following Varane’s progress as a youngster with Lens before his 10 million euro ($11.3 million) move to the Spanish capital in 2011.
And, despite the Frenchman still having four years to run on his current deal at Santiago Bernabeu, United’s new boss Jose Mourinho is, according to a report in the Manchester Evening News, expected to make a push for his signature.
Varane missed much of the second half of the 2015-16 season due to injury, with a thigh problem seeing him ruled out of the Euro 2016 finals this summer.
Yet even before his physical issues, his form was considered to have dropped away as Sergio Ramos and Pepe remained the chosen central-defensive partnership for Madrid by first Rafael Benitez and then Zidane.
However, Zidane still regards the 23-year-old as a key piece of his plan for the future despite the continued prominence of the first-choice duo in the Blancos’ ranks.
Varane's age and significant length of contract are factors playing in his favor should he show a desire to remain in Madrid.
But many people close to Real Madrid now believe Varane could look to move on, having made only 91 league appearances in five years at the Bernabeu and never truly established himself in the first XI. United has already moved to strengthen its defensive stocks since Mourinho took charge, with Eric Bailly being signed from Villarreal for €30M ($33.8M).
But the Portuguese manager is thought to be keen to continue the defensive overhaul at Old Trafford by making further additions to what was a shallow back line last season under Louis van Gaal.
