United have opted against extending Varane’s deal (Picture: Getty)
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has ruled out a move for another centre-half in January amid interest in re-signing Raphael Varane from Manchester United.
Los Blancos are without their first-choice pairing at the back in Eder Militao and David Alaba who are sidelined with ACL injuries.
Reports have suggested they will seek to bring in cover during the January transfer window with Varane, who left the club to join United in 2021, one of the names reportedly under consideration.
Reports in Spain have claimed the former France international would consider a return to the Spanish capital but Ancelotti insists he will instead look at options within his current squad to fill the void at the back.
‘At this moment, we aren’t considering signing another centre-back,’ Ancelotti said.
‘We’re lacking important players, but we have another two who we believe in, Nacho [Fernández] and [Antonio] Rüdiger, and two others who can play there, [Aurélien] Tchouaméni and [Dani] Carvajal. So right now we aren’t considering a signing.’
Ancelotti added: ‘I’ll repeat myself: yes, we won’t sign.’
Ancelotti is happy with his current options (Picture: Getty)
Varane’s current deal is set to expire at the end of the 2023-24 season but United have decided against triggering their option to extend his contract by a further 12 months.
It means Varane will be free to hold talks with foreign clubs from 1 January over a free transfer this summer.
Latest reports suggest Varane feels he is being ‘pushed out’ of the club. The defender is said to be happy at Old Trafford, and is settled in the north-west with his family.
Varane, who joined the club from Real Madrid in 2021, is thought to be United’s top earner on a deal worth £340,000-a-week.
United are eager to reduce their wage bill to free up funds for new signings in the summer as they wait for Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s acquisition of 25 per cent of the club to be ratified by the Premier League.
MORE : Gary Neville ‘worried’ by Manchester United’s plans for Victor Lindelof and Raphael Varane
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Real have confirmed their plans for the January window.
