Real Madrid: 3 young CBs who would pair well with Raphael Varane

Real Madrid will still get a few more high-quality years out of Sergio Ramos, but they are thinking about his long-term replacement.

Sergio Ramos is the most important player to Real Madrid. He is the world’s best ball-playing center back right now in terms of his range of passing, passing accuracy, switches of play, and ability to command the ball. A technically proficient player, Ramos can score from set pieces or from the penalty spot and was Real’s second-highest scorer last season. And of course, Ramos is a true leader and remains a world-class defender.

Hopefully, he and Real can agree to an extension that will keep the No. 4 in the Spanish capital for two more years. Despite being 34 years old, Ramos is still one of the world’s best center backs, especially when you account for how much he adds to the team offensively.

But because Ramos is 34, Real Madrid must be proactive in contemplating life after the Spanish captain retires. He is crucial to Real right now, but Los Blancos must plan for the future. And that’s why they have been showing interest in some of the world’s best young center backs, such as RB Leipzig’s Dayot Upamecano.

Beyond targeting a great young player, Real must find someone who will be a good fit to replace what Ramos leaves behind. They will need to find someone who can be a good partner for Raphael Varane in the coming years, as Varane is next in line to be Real’s leader at the back and is an equally elite defender.

Let’s look at three players who could be ideal center back partners for Varane in the next five years.