Raphael Varane is just 23 years-old but, the Real Madrid center back has already played six seasons, experiencing four different managers and tons of skepticism as to whether he should leave Madrid in order to get more playing time elsewhere. Departing the Santiago Bernabéu crossed the talented Frenchman’s mind before the start of this season. Ben Sundock tells you how Zinedine Zidane kept Varane in Madrid, and how important that will be for Real Madrid next season.
The rumors were swirling earlier this season with questions arising as to whether new Zidane would use Rafa Varane in his defense, or if he would choose to sell the very promising young French defender.
These rumors from the media, and doubting Zidane, Varane was feeling that it might be time for him to move on from Real Madrid for the sake of his career. But, it was Zidane, the man Varane doubted, who reassured the 23 year-old he was a key component in the Real Madrid defense in 2016/2017.
Varane was a go to guy when Jose Mourinho was in charge, and the former manager who won Real their last league title in 2011, was very fond of Varane, his abilities, and work ethic. So much so, that he considered bringing Raphael to Chelsea when he was the manager a couple of years ago.
Varane was very up front with Zidane, explaining to him that he was afraid he wouldn’t get the playing time he thought he deserved. But, Zidane told him otherwise: “I wondered if the club was in tune with my aim, which was to play,” he told L’Equipe.
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“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.”
Zidane clearly has faith in Varane, starting him 18 times in La Liga, 7 times in the Champions League, and twice in the Copa Del Rey.
Beside a hamstring injury that has held the stud center back out for a little over a month, Varane has had a very good season. Averaging a match rating of 7.11 according to Who Scored, in league play and in Champions League, it’s safe to say that Varane is soon going to a world class center back.
Real Madrid and Zidane are very lucky to have kept Varane around, as with the Pepe readying a move to China come the summer, Varane will have to step up into a leadership role and help Sergio Ramos in the middle of the park, with the help of Nacho as always.
“I’m very well in Madrid,” he continued. “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.”
I know most Real Madrid fans would want Raphael to stay for the remainder of his career, I for sure am a member of this group.