Real Madrid

Raphael Varane admits Real Madrid frustration

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 18 May 2016

Real Madrid centre-back Raphael Varane admits that he has been frustrated with his lack of playing time in the second half of the season.

Real Madrid centre-back Raphael Varane has conceded that he "would have liked" to have been selected for "the crucial games" in the second half of the season amid speculation surrounding his future in Spain.

The France international is expected to be a key player for his country at Euro 2016, but has struggled to hold down a regular first-team spot at the Bernabeu since Zinedine Zidane replaced Rafael Benitez at the helm.

Varane has insisted that he 'accepts' the decisions of Zidane, but refused to hide his frustration at losing his spot in the Real back four to the experienced Pepe.

"After five years I hope to overcome the obstacles. I'm at a crucial moment. I think a player needs to develop and feel important. That's true for all players. I try to work every day, to progress. I know the qualities I have and what I can do," Varane told L'Equipe.

"It's true that until November, I played almost everything. It's also true I made some rather unusual errors. But, in the season on the whole, there has been a lot of positive things. It's true I would have liked to play the crucial games at the end of the season, especially in the Champions League, but they are the coach's decisions."

Manchester United have been strongly linked with a move for the 23-year-old, who joined Real Madrid from Lens in 2011.