Fernando Hierro
On 14 July 2016, Varela signed a two-year contract with Real Oviedo in the second level, after being deemed surplus to requirements by new manager Gus Poyet. He scored his only goal for the Asturians on 11 December with a late direct free kick nine minutes after replacing Néstor Susaeta in a 2–1 loss at Real Zaragoza, but later lost his starting place under manager Fernando Hierro and ended his season in April 2017 to undergo surgery on his left knee.