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After the exit of their erstwhile captain and defensive mainstay Sergio Ramos on a free transfer this summer, Real Madrid are bracing for the potential departure of another defensive lynchpin, Raphael Varane.
During a glorious decade-long stint at Real Madrid, Varane played over 350 games and won trophies galore - three La Liga and four Champions League titles - to name a few.
However, the 28-year-old, who has a year left on his contract with the capital club, apparently seeks a new challenge and has been strongly linked with a move to Manchester United.
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Already reeling from the departure of Ramos for free, Real Madrid do not want the same to happen with Varane next summer and want to cash in on the Frenchman when there is still time to do so. However, Varane's departure close on the heels of Ramos' would leave a gaping hole in the heart of the Real Madrid defense.
Fortunately, the La Liga giants already have a few players who could step up and fill in for Varane, while a few new arrivals could also do the job. So without further ado, here's a look at five players who could replace Raphael Varane at Real Madrid should the Frenchman leave the Santiago Bernabeu this summer:
#5 Nacho Fernandez
Nacho Fernandez, more commonly known only by his first name, is a ready-made replacement Real Madrid have for Raphael Varane.
The 31-year-old, who made his club debut in 2010-11, has played more than 200 games in all competitions for Real Madrid. Notably, Nacho featured in 24 league games for his team last season after Sergio Ramos missed large swathes of the campaign due to injury.
Now with Ramos gone and Varane all set to follow suit, Nacho could become Real Madrid's first-choice centre-back under new manager Carlo Ancelotti.
#4 Pau Torres
Pau Torres has been a standout performer for Villarreal, especially last season, helping the club beat English giants Manchester United to win the Europa League.
Only 24, Torres also starred for Spain at Euro 2020, playing all six games and producing two assists for the eventual semi-finalists. Real Madrid are among a plethora of top clubs linked with the tall centre-back.
Nevertheless, when asked about the same during the quadrennial tournament, Torres, who is contracted with Villarreal for three more years, said:
"I'm totally calm, right now I am only focused on the European Championship. Now I'm focused on the Euros. Then the Super Cup, and nice things will come, so I'm totally calm."
It remains to be seen if the 'nice thing' Torres talked about is a move to the Spanish capital before the start of the new season.
#3 David Alaba
David Alaba, widely regarded as one of the best active centre-backs in the game, moved to Real Madrid this summer after a fruitful decade-long stint at Bayern Munich.
Still only 29, the Austrian defender scored 33 goals and provided 56 assists in over 400 games in all competitions for the Bavarian giants, winning two continental trebles and ten Bundesliga titles.
Before transitioning to centre-back, Alaba had made his name at left-back. His versatility could make him an upgrade on Varane and help endear himself to the Real Madrid faithful.
Alaba, who has arrived on a four-year contract in the Spanish capital, said after signing for Real Madrid:
“Not many clubs offered me a deal, but Real Madrid were surely at the top of my own list. Like Bayern, they’re one of the world’s biggest clubs with such a special history and tradition. There have been so many great players and great wins and titles in the history of Real Madrid that I wanted to join the club and continue that history of success with them and the fans."
#2 Jules Kounde
After a breakthrough season with Sevilla, Jules Kounde is the subject of interest from many top clubs across the continent, one of them being Real Madrid.
The 22-year-old Frenchman arrived at the La Liga club in the summer of 2019 and has been a standout performer. Kounde has impressed so much at Sevilla that the club apparently rejected a €50 million bid, which was at least €30 million short of their valuation of the youngster.
With the player also expressing his desire to move to a bigger club, Sevilla might lower their valuation of Kounde if Real Madrid arrive with another offer.
If he arrives in the Spanish capital, Kounde could be an upgrade on Varane, thanks to his superior tackling prowess and other defensive attributes.
#1 Eder Militao
Like his clubmate Nacho, Eder Militao is another ready-made Raphael Varane replacement Real Madrid already have at their disposal.
Since arriving at Madrid two summers ago, the 23-year-old has appeared in over 40 games in all competitions, notching up two goals and as many assists and particularly impressing with his tackling prowess.
With Ramos already gone and Varane possibly leaving as well, Militao looks set to assume greater responsibilities.
After Chelsea beat Real Madrid in the Champions League semifinal, Thiago Silva, who played with Militao for Brazil at Copa America 2021, said as much about his younger compatriot:
“Militao trusts his speed a lot. He’s a very quick guy and sometimes he loses his position a bit because he knows he will track back successfully. I told him to keep going because he was completing a very good season. I’m sure that he will be one of the core players for Real Madrid from now on, after Sergio Ramos’ departure."
