Real Madrid fans got some good news yesterday, as Real Madrid’s website confirmed, that sought after central defender Raphael Varane had put pen to a paper on a new deal that would see him stay with the Spanish Giants till the summer of the year 2020.
The 21year old French defender, who is widely regarded as the best young defender in the world, was rumored to be a Chelsea target;
“I think Varane is the best central defender in the world, a young one, I think he’s the best” – Jose Mourinho in an interview with Yahoo during the World cup.”
The Chelsea Boss’s admiration for the young Real Madrid center back is well known.
As the Portuguese manager was the one who gave Varane his chance with the starting eleven at Madrid after his move from the French Ligue 1.
With earlier rumors suggesting that Varane was refusing to sign a new contract because of his lack of playing time after Jose’s departure, the Spanish tabloids started speculating about a potential move to England.
With John Terry’s Chelsea chapter coming to a close, the Blues will shop for a replacement for the 33 year old defender.
Raphael Varane fits the profile as he is one of the most complete defenders in the world at age 21, and is already a first team starter for the French team.
The youngster has all the attributes to make it in top flight football and stay there. He has amazing pace, is good in the air, and can read the game much better than some defenders twice his age.
With both Terry and Ivanovic on the wrong side of 30, and the young defenders like Omeruo, Kalas, and Zouma not of sufficient quality to start consistently for Chelsea, that leaves the Englishman Gary Cahill who showed on Wednesday why he shouldn’t be trusted with Terry’s mantle.
Although Varane’s new contract makes him harder to get, it doesn’t make it an impossible mission, if Chelsea are seeking the best.
A new contract through to 2020 only makes him a more expensive acquisition.
The London side will have to part with at Least 60 million pounds, if they are to get a player who Jose Mourinho himself tagged the best in the world.
The Blues acquiring such a highly rated prospect ensures that they not only solve their center back issues, but also have no worries in that position for years to come.
Varane has received pundits from ex French internationals like the famous Bixente Lizarazu;
“We are talking about a kid at Real Madrid who unseated Pepe and Pepe with all his stuff, is still a great centre-half. His performances against Barcelona and Manchester United were extraordinary” –Bixente Lizarazu after Varane’s performance against Manchester United.
The young defender is definitely going to be in any discussion of great defenders for the next 10 years and Chelsea will do well to pay any amount that Real Madrid may ask for, to get him.
