'Every day there were new announcements... we ended up losing track of what was happening!': Real Madrid could not keep up with Neymar rumours, reveals Raphael Varane

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Real Madrid's players 'lost track' of Neymar's movements this summer with conflicting reports over where he would go, according to Raphael Varane. 

The French centre back admits the ongoing saga surrounding the Brazilian became too confusing for Zinedine Zidane's squad to stay on top of. 

Neymar made no secret of his desire to leave Paris Saint-Germain and secure a move back to Spain, with both Real Madrid and Barcelona reportedly keen to acquire him.   

Real Madrid's players lost track of rumours linking Neymar to the club, reveals Raphael Varane

The Frenchman (middle) admits there were too many updates on any deal to keep on top of

In the end the £198million record buy was forced to remain with PSG, until January at least, and a summer of talk around his future ended with him staying put.  

Speaking to Le Parisien, Varane makes no secret of the befuddlement in the Madrid dressing room over the whole storyline. 

'We did not talk about it a lot, because we were already focused on our beginning of the season. Every day there were new announcements. We ended up losing track of what was happening!'

Real Madrid make the trip to Paris to face PSG in the opening game of the Champions League group stages on Wednesday in the knowledge that Neymar will miss the game through suspension. 

His conduct following the exit to Manchester United last season, where he stormed down the tunnel to berate the match referee over the decision to award a late penalty, saw him handed a three-match ban.  

Neymar marked his PSG return with a stunning goal but he is suspended for Real Madrid's visit