‘I can only thank you for these years of triumphs’: Sergio Ramos sends message to his former Real Madrid centre back partner Raphael Varane ahead of his imminent £42m move to Manchester United
- Raphael Varane is on the brink of joining Manchester United from Real Madrid
- The centre back has enjoyed an illustrious 10 years with the Spanish giants
- Sergio Ramos has paid tribute to Varane ahead of imminent Old Trafford move
- The pair won three LaLiga titles and four Champions Leagues together
Sergio Ramos has penned an emotional message to Manchester United-bound Raphael Varane following their illustrious days together at Real Madrid.
United are on the brink of officially announcing a £42million move for Varane after confirming they have ‘agreed a deal in principle’ to sign the French centre back.
Varane will be a big loss to Madrid, and Ramos more than anyone knows the Spanish giants have a huge void to fill.
French centre back Raphael Varane is on the cusp of joining Manchester United for £42million
Sergio Ramos has penned a message to his former Real Madrid team-mate ahead of his move
Ramos wrote this message on his Instagram story to Varane
Ramos, who left Madrid himself earlier this summer on a free transfer to PSG following his remarkable 16-year spell with the club, paid tribute to his former centre back partner on Instagram.
‘Dear Rapha, I can only thank you for these years of friendship, companionship and triumphs,’ Ramos said on his Instagram story – alongside a picture of the pair celebrating with the LaLiga title.
‘And wish you luck in a new stage that will surely be exciting.’
Ramos then joked: ‘If we face each other, always with the team of your country, right? Take care.’
The pair forged a formidable partnership at centre back for the Spanish giants when Varane joined the club from Lens in 2011.
The centre back duo won three LaLiga titles, four Champions Leagues, four FIFA Club World Cups, three UEFA Super Cups and one Copa del Rey crown together.
Varane’s imminent arrival at Old Trafford has been met with huge anticipation from United fans – with the club following up on the £73m signing of Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund.
United finished second behind rivals Manchester City in the Premier League last season by 12 points, and there is the hope that the arrivals of Sancho and Varane will allow them to go the distance with Pep Guardiola’s side in the title race next term.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has hailed Varane as a ‘proven winner’ ahead of his £42m transfer
And Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has hailed ‘proven winner’ Varane ahead of the transfer after he agreed personal terms on a four-year contract.
‘Of course very happy that we’ve managed to get a deal with Real Madrid,’ Solskjaer said.
‘The medical should hopefully be OK and he’s a proven winner. He’s a player we’ve followed for many, many years.
‘I know Sir Alex (Ferguson) was very, very close to signing him, so this time around we’ve got him at the other end of his career.
‘He’s proved over his whole career what a good person he is first of all, professional and he’s won what there is to win. I’m very happy getting both our players in.’
Varane will follow Jadon Sancho in signing for the club after his £73m move from Dortmund
