page_title: Raphaël Varane
section_title: 2011–12 season
hierarchical_section_title: Raphaël Varane / Club career / Real Madrid / 2011–12 season
caption_attribution_description: English: Raphaël Varane on Real Madrid training, in Los Angeles, California.Français&#160;: Raphaël Varane à l'entraînement du Real Madrid, à Los Angeles (Californie, États Unis).Русский: Рафаэль Варан
context_page_description: Raphaël Xavier Varane is a French professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Spanish club Real Madrid and the France national team.
  He previously played for French club Lens and, ahead of the 2010–11 season, began training with the senior team and appeared on the bench in several league matches. Varane made his professional debut in 2010 aged 17, in a league match against Montpellier. After one season with the French club, and as a professional footballer, Varane joined Real Madrid in the summer of 2011.
  Since joining the Spanish giants, he has made over 300 appearances for the club and has won 18 major honours including: three La Liga titles, one Copa del Rey title, four FIFA Club World Cup titles and four UEFA Champions League titles. At only 24 years of age, Varane won his third UEFA Champions League trophy making him the youngest defender ever to have won three Champions League trophies, beating Paolo Maldini who was 26 when he won his third Champions League title.
  Varane was a France youth international, having earned caps at under-18, under-20 and under-21 level.
context_section_description: On 22 June 2011, Lens president Gervais Martel confirmed to a group of supporters at a club meeting that Varane would be joining Spanish club Real Madrid stating, "He will play for Real Madrid under the guidance of José Mourinho." Varane had previously visited Real Madrid's club facilities and also met with club advisor and compatriot Zinedine Zidane. On 27 June, the move was confirmed by Real Madrid after Varane successfully passed his medical. Varane signed a six-year contract with the club and the transfer fee is purported to be in the range of €10 million.
  Varane was assigned the number 19 shirt and made his club debut for Real Madrid in the club's opening pre-season fixture against American outfit Los Angeles Galaxy in the 2011 World Football Challenge. He appeared as a half-time substitute as Real Madrid cruised to a 4–1 win. Varane made his first start for the club four days later in a 3–0 win over Mexican club Guadalajara. He finished the pre-season campaign appearing in seven of the eight pre-season matches Real Madrid contested.
  Varane made his competitive debut for Real Madrid on 21 September in the team's league match against Racing de Santander. He started the match at centre-back alongside Ricardo Carvalho as the match ended 0–0. In the team's next league match three days later against Rayo Vallecano, Varane started and scored his first goal for the club after a flying back-heel shot following a Mesut Özil corner. Real Madrid won the match 6–2. Varane's goal made him the youngest foreign player at 18 years and 152 days to score a goal in a competitive match for Real Madrid. On 27 September, he made his UEFA Champions League debut in a 3–0 group stage win over Dutch club Ajax. Two months later, Varane made his second Champions League appearance against Croatian club Dinamo Zagreb. In the match, Varane started and assisted on the team's fifth goal, scored by José Callejón, in a 6–2 win. The victory ensured Real Madrid first place in its group.
caption: Varane training with Real Madrid in 2011
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