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

Juventus CB Matthijs de Ligt

If money isn’t an object and if he were somehow available in the next few years, Juventus superstar Matthijs de Ligt would be the ideal transfer target for Real Madrid.

The former Ajax star has shown his quality to Los Blancos in head-to-head competition. He is already a world-class center back and has surpassed the likes of Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci in Turin, even at the age of 21.

If there is a single player who could even be entertained as an actual, direct replacement for Sergio Ramos, then it is de Ligt. At 21, he already has vast leadership experience, as nobody will forget what he did as Ajax’s center back in the 2018-2019 Champions League season any time soon.

De Ligt is a well-rounded center back. He is a vocal and physically strong player who has good pace and athletic tools. De Ligt reads the danger better than his more experienced teammates, namely Bonucci, and is almost always here when a play needs to be made. That’s been a key feature of Ramos.

Offensively, de Ligt has something to offer, too. He scored four goals last season for Juventus, including one scorcher from outside the box this summer against Udinese. His technical quality both as a passer and tertiary scoring option have quietly improved in Turin.

De Ligt would cost a fortune. The Bianconeri paid at least 75 million euros to acquire the Dutch superstar before the 2019-2020 season, and his reputation has only increased after a strong summer in Serie A when he overcame initial growing pains.

Although the 21-year-old is the definition of a dream option, he is certainly worth dreaming about. A center back pairing of de Ligt and Varane would ensure that Real Madrid still have the world’s best central defensive partnership for several years.