Manchester United transfer news: Raphael Varane admits he turned down Jose Mourinho to stay at Real Madrid

The prospect of a reunion with Mourinho nevertheless tempted Varane

Varane has developed into one of the world's leading defenders Getty

Raphaël Varane has revealed that he turned down the opportunity to move to Manchester United this summer.
The Real Madrid defender has been linked with a move to Old Trafford in recent months, particularly since Jose Mourinho’s appointment as United’s new manager in May.
Mourinho handed an 18-year-old Varane his Madrid first-team debut in 2011, and Varane has since credited the Portuguese with developing him into one of world football’s leading centre-backs.

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The prospect of a reunion with Mourinho appears to have tempted Varane, only for him to decide against leaving the Santiago Bernabeu this summer.
The France international told Canal+: "Of course it's flattering, Manchester United are a very big club.
“But from the moment when Madrid and I are in sync on my project, there's no questions to ask yourself.
"I have always said I feel good in Madrid. It's not easy to say 'no' to Jose Mourinho, but you have to weigh up the pros and the cons.
"We're men, we have decisions to make and that's how it is," he added.
Varane has previously hailed Mourinho’s man management skills, referencing the time he received a “kick up the backside” during his difficult second season in Madrid.
"During my second year at Madrid, Jose Mourinho gave me a kick up the backside," he told Le Journal du Dimanche last year.
"I wasn't doing well, I wasn't managing to do what he wanted me to out on the pitch. So he chided me, saying: 'Why don't you run in training?'
“My first reaction was to mutter, 'Oh come on...' But I knew he was right, I had more to give."