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Manchester United and Real Madrid reach deal for Raphael Varane

By Ernesto Hernandez

France's defender Raphael Varane (R) greets the fans after their win in the UEFA EURO 2020 Group F football match between France and Germany at the Allianz Arena in Munich on June 15, 2021. (Photo by Matthias Schrader / POOL / AFP) (Photo by MATTHIAS SCHRADER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
France's defender Raphael Varane (R) greets the fans after their win in the UEFA EURO 2020 Group F football match between France and Germany at the Allianz Arena in Munich on June 15, 2021. (Photo by Matthias Schrader / POOL / AFP) (Photo by MATTHIAS SCHRADER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Chelsea’s German forward Timo Werner (L) vies with Real Madrid’s French defender Raphael Varane during the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg football match between Real Madrid and Chelsea at the Alfredo di Stefano stadium in Valdebebas, on the outskirts of Madrid, on April 27, 2021. (Photo by PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU / AFP) (Photo by PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea’s German forward Timo Werner (L) vies with Real Madrid’s French defender Raphael Varane during the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg football match between Real Madrid and Chelsea at the Alfredo di Stefano stadium in Valdebebas, on the outskirts of Madrid, on April 27, 2021. (Photo by PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU / AFP) (Photo by PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP via Getty Images) /

Manchester United have made their second high-profile signing of the summer as they have reached an agreement with Real Madrid over center-back Raphaël Varane.

According to ESPN, the Red Devils have agreed to pay approximately €41 million with an additional €8.2 million in add-ons.

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Varane had been heavily linked with Manchester United in the last couple of weeks with those rumors gaining strength.

Those rumors are now a reality as Varane had made his intentions of leaving Real Madrid quite clear. He felt it was time for a change of scenery — a new challenge — and United jumped at the chance to sign him.

The Varane signing comes a few days after manager Ole Gunner Solskjaer penned a contract extension with the club until 2024.

With the addition of Jadon Sancho and now Varane as well, management is getting the right players in place for Solskjaer in order to improve results from last season both domestically and in the Champions League.

Manchester United developing a strong defensive unit

There is little to no doubt of the quality Varane brings to Manchester United. He had only one year left on his contract with Real Madrid and it opened the door to the move.

He’ll be alongside the likes of Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw and will certainly further improve a side that gave up 44 goals last season — fourth-best in the Premier League.

Varane’s experience in the Champions League was undoubtedly another factor in brining him in. He’s won the competition four times with Real Madrid as well as three league titles. The 28-year-old still has plenty left in the tank.

United has struggled in the European competition. They crashed out of the group stage last season and ended up in the Europa League. They made it all the way to the final before falling to Villarreal.

The Red Devils finished second in the league last season, earning automatic qualification to next season’s edition. With Varane and their attacking threat, the club are going to look to get farther in the competition.

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The only thing remaining to make the deal official is for the Frenchman to take his physical, which is expected to happen by next week. Varane is then expected to put pen to paper on a four-year deal.

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