Real Madrid's Raphael Varane ruled out of El Clasico

Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane has been ruled out of Saturday's El Clasico at Camp Nou.

The centre-back represented France on two occasions during the recent international break and had been in line to start alongside Sergio Ramos against Barcelona in this weekend's La Liga clash.

A statement on Real Madrid's official website, however, has revealed that the 22-year-old has a "muscular injury in his left ankle" and has consequently been left out of the squad.

Varane's future at the Bernabeu has been called into question in recent weeks, with a host of Premier League clubs believed to be closely monitoring developments in the Spanish capital.