Real Madrid

Raphaël Varane’s performance in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final against Barcelona has caught the attention of the most important media sources around the world. On top of his excellent defensive performance, the Frenchman scored a headed goal that left the match wide open going into the second leg. In Spain, Marca and As praised the French defender. The former said: “Salvador Varane, made a name for himself.” The defender, who they described as ‘immense’, “became Madrid’s hero with a goal and several excellent defensive actions. A phenomenal match from start to finish. In the Clásico he has established himself as a world-class defender”, while As, which described him as “impeccable”, wrote: “Varane breathes life into Madrid” and “It was Varane who finished as man of the match. Thanks to a number of opportune crosses, his reliability on the ball, his speed, his class and his goal. It could be said that yesterday he emerged as a great player”.

ABC also singled out the defender: “Varane establishes himself in his first Madrid-Barcelona”. Both El Mundo and La Razón also praised the Madrid player’s performance. “Varane is on his way to becoming a 'Clásico'. He breathed life into the clásico around his goal and the opposition’s. He prevented one goal and saved Madrid with an excellent finish. An emperor is born. He brought the Bernabéu to its feet with his performance” said the former, while the other paper said: "A Monument to Varane. The Frenchman was the pillar of the defence and scored the equaliser ... Giving hope to Madrid”. El País placed him in the headline: “Barça could not handle Varane”, and added these words: “The French defender, who was sublime around both goals, passed with flying colours for Madrid in an intense and exciting match”.

In France, L’Equipe singled out its countryman: “Varane stopped Barcelona. He was the man of the match. He had a great game in defence and his equalizer keeps Real Madrid’s hopes of qualifying alive after drawing against Barcelona”. According to France Football, “Varane, imperious in the centre of the defence stopped Barcelona and left his mark on the semi-final of la Copa”. Le Monde added: "The Young Frenchman Raphael Varane enjoyed himself in the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, scoring with his head in José Manuel Pinto’s net from a good cross from Mesut Özil".

The rest of the world also praised the Madrid defender. “Varane rises to the top in Clasico. A new star was born at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night. A defensive rock who stole the show in his first ever Clasico appearance with the supreme talent that he showed throughout the 90 minutes”, said ESPN on its website. In Germany, Kicker stated that “Varane saves Madrid with his head”, while in Italy La Gazzetta dello Sport wrote: “Near the end, a cross from Özil and header by Varane: deserved reward for a great performance from the French defender".

	Camiseta de Varane en la tienda del Real Madrid para España
	Camiseta de Varane en la tienda del Real Madrid Internacional