Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane says the club will still be ready to compete this season, even if Paul Pogba does not switch to the Bernabeu.

The Manchester United ace is being linked with a move to the Spanish capital but the Red Devils are determined to keep hold of him this summer. Pogba played 40 minutes in Tuesday’s 1-0 friendly victory against Norway’s Kristiansund, while Madrid lost 1-0 to Tottenham in the Audi Cup just hours earlier.

Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane is still determined to land his number one target but Varane claims his side can still win the La Liga title without him. “I think we have a team. Pogba is a good player, I know him very well. For any team he would be fantastic,” Varane said.

“I trust my team-mates. If new players come, we’ll see. I trust my team-mates. I understand that you always want to improve. We are working on that and I trust in our work.

“It is true that on an individual level we are making mistakes. They’re not tactical, they’re technical errors. This will be corrected. I think we’re going to improve little by little. We are focused on our work.

“I understand that there are many expectations. I also want to see Madrid win, we all want more, it’s good and normal. You have to be calm, this season didn’t start. When it starts, we’ll be ready.” Any move for Pogba may depend on player sales, with Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez both being linked with the exit door in Madrid.

Madrid endured one of their worst campaigns in La Liga last season, finishing 19 points behind Barcelona and they are 2.50 to get their hands on the trophy in 2020.