Real Madrid still intend to cash in on Manchester United target Raphael Varane despite announcing that Sergio Ramos will leave the club this summer, according to reports in Spain.
The 35-year-old centre-back has captained the side for the past six seasons – winning three Champions League titles during that time – but has opted not to renew his contract with Los Blancos.
Ramos refused to take a 10% pay cut and was unhappy with Real’s decision to only offer a one-year extension, so will leave on a free transfer at the end of the month.
With such an important stalwart and talisman leaving the Bernabeu, it had been suggested that fellow wantaway defender Varane would now be kept at the club.
But Spanish radio station Cadena SER’s El Larguero show report that the Frenchman is still very likely to leave Real this summer, with the Liga giants keen to cash in on a player who only has one year left on his current contract.
Like Ramos, Varane has been unwilling to accept a salary cut and Real feel this summer is their last opportunity to land a sizeable fee for the World Cup winner – who would also be able to leave for nothing in a year’s time.
Real already have centre-backs Eder Militao and Nacho at the club, while new recruit David Alaba is also capable of playing in central defence.
According to El Larguero, Varane has several offers from the Premier League – while Paris Saint-Germain has also been mooted as a potential destination – but he is ‘closest’ to a move to Manchester United.
The Red Devils, who are in the market for a new centre-back, believe they could land Varane for a bargain fee of around £40million.
Ramos, meanwhile, has no official offers from any clubs yet despite being available on a free transfer and El Larguero claim part of his motivation for announcing his exit now is to entice some contract offers and prove to interested clubs that he is serious about leaving the Bernabeu.
His most likely destination is either Paris or London, with Chelsea possibly considering signing another experienced, superstar defender on a free transfer after Thiago Silva last year, while both Manchester clubs have also been linked with Ramos.
MORE : Sergio Ramos to leave Real Madrid on free transfer after 16 years at the Bernabeu
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