Varane: “I talked to Real Madrid because it was a great opportunity to play in the Premier League”

Former Real Madrid center-back Raphael Varane has talked to Manchester United’s official website, where he explained why he decided to leave the Spanish capital to join the Red Devils this summer.

“I’m very happy and very excited to start this new journey for me. It was a very good adventure with my old club, but now it’s a new start for me and I’m very happy to be here,” said Varane.

When asked about why he decided to leave Real Madrid, where he was set to be one of the captains in the near future, Varane was clear.

“I think it was a good moment because of a lot of things, but I think the most important one is it’s a new challenge and it’s a big motivation to start in a new league in a big club like Manchester United. This opportunity was amazing for me, so I chose this change for me and my family. They have come with me. You feel when things are a good moment and this was the right moment,” he explained.

The French defender also revealed how he told Real Madrid that he wanted to join Manchester United this summer.

“There had been a lot of rumours and a lot of people speaking about me and Manchester United since 2011, when Sir Alex Ferguson came to my mother’s house. When it was real, that was when I spoke with my club, and I felt it was a real opportunity to play in the Premier League for Manchester United,” he said.

Varane definitely seems excited about his new challenge, but did Real Madrid do their best trying to keep him? Could he have stayed in Madrid had he been offer a better contract extension?

We will never know, but both Varane and Real Madrid lost a great opportunity to write history.