Raphael Varane Reveals He Wanted To Quit Real Madrid Not So Long Ago
Reuters / Susana Vera
The French defender could have left Real Madrid but needed some assurances from Zinedine Zidane to extend his stay.
The former Lens youngster came to the fore under current Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, who also wants him at Old Trafford. He broke into the first team under the Portuguese manager but was not able to impress Carlo Ancelotti, losing a place in the first team.
And though he now stands as one of the best defenders, playing for one of the biggest clubs in Europe, he has today revealed that all this could have remained just a dream.
Frustrated by the lack of playing time at the Bernabeu, he wanted to quit in search of regular football revealed Varane in a recent interview.
Speaking to the French media recently, the 23-year old confessed that he spoke to the coach before the summer regarding his future. He told L’Equipe: “I wondered if the club was in tune with my aim, which was to play.”
“I needed to know what I had to do to get playing time. Zidane told me things clearly, notably that I was important to him. We left on good terms,” he added.
Also Play:
He also went on to say that he realizes Real Madrid is one of the best clubs in Europe and that at just 23, he is lucky to be in the first team regularly.
“The president and the coach told me they were going in my direction. I put my head to the handlebars and I worked before and during pre-season. I don’t forget that Real Madrid is a big thing. And I don’t forget that I’m only 23, even though I’m finishing my sixth season here,” Varane added.
He has been linked on and off with a reunion with Mourinho at Old Trafford but he squashed all such rumors and revealed that he is happy with his time at the Bernabeu at the moment.
“I’m very well in Madrid. All the lights are green. I’m focused on the exciting spring that awaits us. It would be wonderful to spend my whole career at Madrid. But my early days taught me to enjoy every moment because everything can change very quickly – I saw that with Euro 2016,” he added.
