Manchester United defender Raphael Varane admits he was ready to join the club as an 18 year-old.

The Frenchman has a World Cup medal, is a three-time La Liga winner and has even been knighted by his country. But while Varane may have spent the peak years of his career at Real Madrid after Sir Alex Ferguson pulled out of a deal to bring him to Old Trafford from Lens as a teenager at the 11th hour, he views the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle as an important step on another journey to the top.

“Winning becomes an addiction," he said. “When you start to win, you just want to win again and again and do nothing else.

“You start to believe that anything is possible. Of course, you also need a bit of luck along the way - but sometimes when you are more confident you bring the luck along with you.

“When you can grow with the club and the team, that's a great feeling. With Madrid, my best memories were when we were climbing and on the journey rather than the arrival.

“Honestly, it's better when you're going up. When you are on the top the only thing that can change is to disappoint. That's why our first objective is to win this final because it's the first step. What we all want is to see Man United back at the top and playing in the Champions League every year."

Varane can now laugh about the memory of his failed move to United in 2011. Then Ferguson opted to spend £16.5.million to bring in Phil Jones from Blackburn - and the rest is history.

Varane recalled: “It was all agreed between Lens and Manchester - but then I think Manchester changed their mind. If I remember, the signed a different player or had different options.

“I was 18 and very happy in Lens. Okay it was a great opportunity, but I knew another opportunity would soon come. I can't have any regrets about how it turned out.

“I have spoken to Sir Alex since I have been here, but I didn't mention what happened back then. I didn't want to say something negative, you know? I have too much respect for him."