Real Madrid must turn down Premier League interest in Raphael Varane

Real Madrid star Raphael Varane is arguably the best center back in the world, and the club shouldn’t entertain any offers for him at any price.

Last season, Real Madrid center back Raphael Varane was the star of the best defense in Europe, reminding fans around the world why Virgil van Dijk isn’t necessarily alone in the debate for the world’s best center back.

Van Dijk is on a sensational run, which includes giving Lionel Messi a real challenge for the 2019 Ballon d’Or, but Varane has won trophies at a club and international level for years, setting benchmarks as a leader at the heart of some of the most dominant teams we’ve seen.

According to a report from Mundo Deportivo, Pep Guardiola and Manchester City showed interest in Varane, likely exploring to see if there is even a possibility they could sign what should be a dream target for the legendary manager. So you can’t really blame Guardiola for going after one of the world’s best, perhaps to counter what Liverpool have.

As fully expected, Real Madrid rejected City’s advances, as Varane is crucial to the team in 2020-2021 and beyond.

Varane is currently signed through 2022, but there have been rumblings that the France international is set to sign an extension through 2025.

A World Cup winner and four-time Champions League winner, it’s often hard to believe Varane is still only 26 years old in light of everything he’s already accomplished. The future Real Madrid captain once Sergio Ramos declines and hangs up his cleats in a few years, Varane can do it all at the center back position.

Calm on the ball, always smart with his clearances, impervious in the air, quick on the ground, and brimming with technical quality, Varane is a dream player at the center back position. Real Madrid fans love everything Varane brings to the table and feel that much safer with him next to Ramos, reading attacks like a grandmaster in chess.

Varane is in his prime, consistently putting on great performances. He was probably La Liga’s best defender in 2019-2020, especially in the second half of the season when Real were shutting most attacks down in the late winter.

Nobody can blame Guardiola or any other Premier League manager for wanting to sign Varane, especially considering City’s funding and massive needs at the center back position. But Varane isn’t for sale at any price, except a record-breaking one. Like Fede Valverde, he is among the invaluable stars Real Madrid simply won’t part with.