Raphael Varane has revealed that he initially struggled with the media hype surrounding his move to Real Madrid.

The French international was just 18 when he joined Los Blancos in 2011 and he has reflected on his first impressions of the club.

"Strangely enough I didn't know what it would be like until I arrived at [Madrid airport] Barajas and saw 60 journalists waiting for me. I quickly realised the change was going to be severe," Varane told France Football.

"Nothing was going to be like it was before and I wasn't expecting it. When you are 18 it's not obvious and I wasn't ready to live that way.

"To be honest it took me time to accept it and get used to the consequences of my decision [to sign]. At that time I was getting ready to enter a dressing room full of all these stars and the media pressure scared me a little."

Varane is widely regarded as one of the best young centre-backs in European football.