Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr and Lionel Messi's Inter Miami keen to sign Real Madrid legend: Reports
Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr and Lionel Messi's Inter Miami are reportedly hoping to add Real Madrid great Raphael Varane to their respective ranks this summer.
Varane, 31, is set to be one of the high-profile names available on the market after his exit from Manchester United at the end of his deal this month. He is believed to have no suitors from Europe's top-five leagues.
Now, according to journalist Ekrem Konur, both Al-Nassr and Inter Miami are ready to launch a move to sign Varane on a free transfer in the summer transfer window. Both teams could offer the former Real Madrid man regular first-team action and a big final payday.
Should Varane decide to join Al-Nassr this summer, he would emerge as a regular starter for them. He would also reunite with Ronaldo, who has played 231 matches with the ace at Real Madrid and the Red Devils.
On the other hand, the ex-Real Madrid defender would also pop up as a first-team starter at Messi's side should he join them this year. He would likely partner Tomas Aviles at the heart of the American club's defence.
Varane, who has won a FIFA World Cup crown and four UEFA Champions League trophies so far, struggled to shine for Manchester United in the 2023-24 campaign. He helped Erik ten Hag's side register 12 clean sheets in 32 matches, including 25 starts, last campaign.
Liverpool's Arne Slot compares managerial rivalry to Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo
Speaking to club media, Liverpool head coach Arne Slot likened Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola's rivalry to that of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's rivalry in the La Liga. He said:
"I am 45 now and [have been] watching football for a long time and watching football a lot, and I think this has been an era where everybody looked at the Barcelona side of Xavi [Hernandez], [Andres] Iniesta and [Lionel] Messi and the rivalry there was between Real Madrid with Cristiano Ronaldo being there."
Slot, who joined Liverpool after leaving Feyenoord last month, added:
"And I think when that came to an end, the new rivalry in European football came because of Jurgen – he managed Liverpool and Pep Guardiola, of course, managed Manchester City and I think for everyone who loves football, it was a fantastic era to watch the both of them getting the best out of each other. Yeah, I have seen a lot of games of Liverpool, a lot of games of City as well."
So far, Klopp and Guardiola have locked horns 30 times at club level. The former has won 12 times, while the Spaniard has won 11 games.
Slot, meanwhile, has replaced Klopp at the Anfield outfit after helping Feyenoord lift the Eredivisie title in 2023 and the Dutch cup in 2024.