The Spanish club don’t have a great record when it comes to signing defenders…
Barcelona’s scouting team, which for so long has successfully identified the best young talent in the world, has been somewhat embarrassed by recent revelations about a significant oversight they made.
Spanish paper AS revealed that the Catalan club produced a scouting reporting on Real Madrid centre-back Raphael Varane while he was at Lens, but did not like what they see.
Barcelona have struggled to find centre-backs that fit their system in recent years. Players like Dimitro Chygrynsky and Gabi Milito have been high-profile failure; and the club has been forced to turn to Javier Mascherano, a converted midfielder as their most important defender since the retirement of Carles Puyol.
SEE MORE:
Former Manchester United Coach Claims Old Trafford Side Can Win Premier League Title
FC Basel Star Fabian Frei Claims Liverpool Want Him To Replace Steven Gerrard
Cruz Azul v Real Madrid – Stream Club World Cup Live
Despite Barcelona’s dismissal of the player’s prospects, Real Madrid did not hesitate to sign Varane, apparently on the recommendation of Zinedine Zidane, who had only recently been appointed at the time.
It has proved to be an excellent decision, with the club now wondering whether to stick with the tried and tested Pepe-Sergio Ramos partnership in the centre of defence or put their faith in the precociously talented Varane.
The French centre-back has cemented his place in his national team, and played in every game as they reached the Quarter Finals in Brazil.