Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane has suffered a disappointing setback after it was revealed that he is expected to miss the Champions League final with a muscle injury.
The French defender would likely have had to settle for a place on the bench regardless with Zinedine Zidane preferring Pepe and Sergio Ramos as his two central defenders, but his absence will be a blow for the squad ahead of their clash with rivals Atletico Madrid in Milan on Saturday night.
Furthermore, much will now depend on the extent of the injury as it could well also put his position at Euro 2016 in jeopardy with the tournament just under three weeks away.
“After tests carried out today on the player Raphaël Varane, he has been diagnosed with a grade 2 injury in the left thigh muscle. His recovery will continue to be assessed,” an official statement on the club’s website read.
Initial suggestions are that the 23-year-old will be sidelined for up to three weeks given the type of injury, but he will be hopeful that he can prove his fitness and ensure that he remains in the plans of Didier Deschamps.
As for the Champions League final, it is highly probable that he will have to settle for watching his teammates from the sidelines. In turn, Zidane will be hopeful that both Pepe and Ramos remain fully fit and thus avoid presenting him a real selection headache ahead of the club’s biggest game of the season.
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