Zinedine Zidane out to keep Manchester United target Raphael Varane at Real Madrid

Posted Saturday, June 18, 2016 by squawka.com

Real Madrid are likely to resist any attempts to sign their French international defender Raphael Varane this summer, according to reports.

The 23-year-old has been linked with a move away this summer but manager Zinedine Zidane has made it clear under no circumstances is he to be sold.

Zidane, who advised the club to sign the aforementioned player in the first place, still believes there is a role for him at the club even though his unwillingness to start him over Sergio Ramos or Pepe has led to Varane contemplating his future.

Given the lack of playing time through injuries and senior centre-half Pepe's presence, there is a belief at Manchester United that this could be the summer Varane can be prised away from Madrid.

While Goal report that sources close to Real Madrid expect Varane to look for another club, it is also claimed Zidane will not give him up without a fight.

Manchester United, who recently acquired the services of another talented young centre-back in Eric Bailly, were incidentally were close to signing Varane from boyhood club RC Lens before Real's intervention.

The man overseeing his arrival at the Bernabéu was none other than José Mourinho and under him Varane would feature in 48 matches across all competitions.

It was during the reign of Mourinho that he enjoyed his most prolific spell in the famous white of Real, scoring four goals as well as providing a single assist.

However, Goal reports that.

A string of impressive performances earmarked him as a future mainstay in the heart of Madrid's defence. He would in time earn a first international call-up to the French national team.

To date he's won 29 caps, including playing in every game for Les Bleus at the last World Cup, unfortunately a thigh injury has meant Didier Deschamps would be forced to omit him from their Euro 2016 squad.