Manchester United defender Guillermo Varela: Zinedine Zidane hints Real Madrid want permanent deal

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has hinted the club are very interested in striking a permanent deal for Manchester United starlet Guillermo Varela.

Varela, 21, was allowed to leave Old Trafford and join Real Madrid Castilla, the club's B side, during the summer transfer window.

The Uruguayan youngster has gone on to make 13 appearances for the club in Spain's second tier this season, much to the delight of his head coach Zidane, who has backed the full back to establish himself in the top flight, whether it be in Spain or on his return to the Premier League.

"I am delighted with Guillermo Varela," Zidane was quoted as saying by Ovacion. "He is very hard-working, very serious and he is going to have a big future for sure."

United confirmed Varela had left the club to join Javier Hernandez in the Spanish capital the day after the closure of the summer transfer window.

The loan move reportedly included the option of making the deal a permanent one, although neither club have confirmed such a clause.

The full back became the first arrival of the David Moyes era last summer, arriving at the club for a reported fee of £1m from Penarol signing a five-year deal having previously made a number of trips to the club and impressed the coaching staff.

He was a regular at right back for Warren Joyce's Under-21 during the first half of last season before returning to his homeland for personal reasons. He been previously tipped to provide back up for Rafael da Silva in the first team this season.