Manchester United defender Raphael Varane has sent out a heartfelt tribute to one of his former Real Madrid teammates after calling him “special” and “powerful.”
Raphael Varane has been at Old Trafford since 2021 after he left Real Madrid, with Manchester United agreeing a deal worth up to £42m for him.
During his decade-long spell in the Spanish capital, the 30-year-old French centre-back had a long-lasting impact at Los Blancos and hoovered up the silverware.
Varane struck up a formidable defensive partnership with Madrid legend Sergio Ramos and lifted four Champions League titles with the La Liga side.
The 2018 World Cup winner shared the pitch with a plethora of talented players at Madrid, including Cristiano Ronaldo and current United teammate Casemiro.
Varane, who remains an important first-team player for Erik ten Hag at United, has taken to social media and sent an emotionally charged message to one Madrid star.
Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior speaks out
Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior broke down in tears on Monday during Brazil’s pre-match press conference ahead of the Spain clash on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old Brazilian winger has been at Madrid since 2018 after he left Flamengo and is a key player for Los Blancos manager Carlo Ancelotti.
Despite impressing during his time in La Liga, Vinicius Junior has endured vile abuse in his Madrid playing career and has been targeted with racial abuse in the past.
The Brazil international, who has been linked with Manchester United in the past, admitted that he felt “less and less like playing” after the racist abuse he received.
Speaking ahead of the Brazil match, Vinicius Junior said (via The Guardian): “I just want to play football, but it’s hard to move forward […].
“I feel less and less like playing. It never crossed my mind [to leave Spain] because if I leave Spain, I give the racists exactly what they want.”
He added: “I will stay because that way the racists can continue to see my face more and more.
“I’m a bold player, I play for Real Madrid and we win a lot of titles and that doesn’t sit well with a lot of people.”
Varane’s message to Madrid star Vinicius Junior
Both Casemiro and Raphael Varane have sent out their support to Vinicius Junior in the past after he was racially abused.
Vinicius Junior said that he was racially abused in Madrid’s 1-0 La Liga defeat to Valencia in 2023, with the Brazilian later sent off in injury time due to an altercation.
Varane and Casemiro, who both played alongside Vinicius Junior, sent messages to the Brazil winger after the abuse he received in the aforementioned clash.
Now, Varane has taken to social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, and sent a message to Vinicius Junior after the Madrid star’s recent admission.
“You are powerful. You are special,” he wrote on Monday, tagging Vinicius’s handle and adding a raised fist emoji.
“Your dreams and inspiration are stronger than any words that can ever be used against you.”
READ MORE: Join the conversation with the United in Focus Whatsapp group
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
