Raphael Varane's Carlo Ancelotti comments hint at potential Man Utd transfer

Raphael Varane has been the subject of intense speculation linking him with a move away from Real Madrid after a decade as part of the Los Blancos backline.

Varane is one of the most highly-rated central defenders on the continent and has been for some time, hence the interest from some of the biggest clubs including Premier League titans Manchester United and Liverpool, though the latter's signing of Ibrahima Konate appears to have ended that particular rumour.

Should he opt against a move in the summer, he'll be plying his trade under boss Carlo Ancelotti for the second time of his career after the 61-year-old has returned for another stint in charge of Real Madrid.

However, comments that Varane made in 2017 discussing life under Ancelotti the first time around have resurfaced, only further fuelling talk of a potential exit in the upcoming transfer window.

Varane said: "Since he left, I've improved. I could have perhaps played more under him if I could have shown him he could count on me in difficult times.

"There was less turnover and you really needed to bring the house down to have any chance of playing again. I wasn't able to do that."

The defender conceded that Ancelotti "made his choices, and I can understand them", before adding: "I didn't play as much as I would have wanted, but it pushed me to ask questions of myself and progress."

United have long been linked with a move for the World Cup winner and an Ancelotti reunion could be a catalyst for the transfer.

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Given Varane's current contract with Madrid expires at the end of next season, the Spanish giants are in the difficult position of deliberating between cashing in on the star this summer, or face allowing him to walk out on a free next year.

Reports suggested Real Madrid where even willing to throw the captain's armband in their new and improved contract offer for the Frenchman, who is yet to put pen to paper due to a disagreement over his wages.

This is not the first time the Red Devils have registered an interest in the centre-back, the soon-to-be departed United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward was prepared to sanction a £100million move for Varane after the 2018 World Cup, but given he helped guide his country to glory in that tournament his value was well in excess of that figure at the time.