Manchester United have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Raphael Varane after Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane insisted the defender is the future of the club.
The Red Devils are expected to make a move for Varane in the future with Jose Mourinho keen to reunite with the defender at Old Trafford if he replaces Louis van Gaal at the end of the season.
Varane, 22, is regarded as one of the best young defenders in Europe and was brought to Madrid by Mourinho in 2011, but the former Chelsea manager may be forced to look elsewhere for a new central defender with Zidane confident of keeping the defender in Madrid.
“Of course it is normal Mourinho would want to sign Raphael,” Zidane is quoted as saying by the Daily Mail. “He knows him well, he bought him here to the club. He is the future of the club."
Varane has usurped Pepe as the first choice partner to Sergio Ramos for Madrid this season and started in five of their six Champions League group stage matches. However, only Pepe has won more aerial duels per game (3) than Varane for Madrid in La Liga this season (1.8).
For more stats on Raphael Varane, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
