Real Madrid are on the verge of losing Raphael Varane, as his lack of interest in signing a new contract puts him closer to signing for Manchester United.
In a matter of one month, Los Blancos would have lost two of their most important central defenders in recent years as Sergio Ramos was also let go of following the expiry of his contract in June. Varane and Ramos going is a major blow for the Merengues, but thankfully, they do have a number of other options on their roster who can be trusted to be successful at the back.
What is certain is that the Madrid defence will have a totally new look next season and it will take some time to get used to seeing a backline without the presence of Varane and Ramos – both of whom are nothing short of legendary figures in the Santiago Bernabeu’s most recent folklore, which included a threepeat of the UEFA Champions League.
David Alaba has been signed from Bayern Munich, and his versatility will come in handy as well for Carlo Ancelotti, who knows the Austrian international from their time together in the Bundesliga at the Allianz Arena. Jesus Vallejo could be another one of the club’s centre-backs and is as good as a new addition to the squad.
What are the three ways in which the defence can line up in the upcoming season?