Could Manchester United defender Raphaël Varane return to Real Madrid?

An update on the ongoing speculation linking Raphaël Varane with a move back to La Liga with Real Madrid has been provided.

The name of stopper Varane has of course found itself front and centre in the headlines in Spain’s capital over the course of the last week.

This comes after the defensive injury crisis facing Real Madrid deepened ever further, upon David Alaba joining Éder Militão on the sidelines with an ACL rupture of his own.

The Santiago Bernabéu brass, as a result, are expected to dip into the transfer market next month, in a bid to secure some much-needed fresh blood at the back.

And Varane, for one, has been tipped as a potential target.

French international Varane has endured an underwhelming campaign to date, finding himself in and out of the starting XI at faltering Manchester United.

It has in turn been suggested that the 30-year-old could make his way back to Madrid, after enjoying a trophy-laden stint with Los Merengues from 2011 to 2021.

And any such move, it would appear, would be backed by Real headmaster Carlo Ancelotti.

As per a report from AS, Varane has not yet been formally added to the list of targets drawn up by Florentino Pérez and his team.

However, the World Cup winner would be welcomed back with open arms by Ancelotti and his coaching staff.

Varane is still held in high regard in Spain’s capital, also fitting the bill of a player ready to step into an immediate and prominent role, boasting long-term experience with the pressures of lining out for the 14-time Champions League winners.

Not only that, but is it suggested that he could be snapped up for a cut-price fee, making a winter deal all the more appealing.

Conor Laird | GSFN