I didn’t know much about Rafa Varane when Madrid signed him, but I was immediately impressed when I heard that he was successfully combining his studies with football, and was a serious student.  Rafa subsequently passed the Baccalaureate in economics, which was his favorite subject along with sociology.  He also studied German, and speaks English without any problems thanks to his mom, who is an English teacher!  Plus, his brother Jonathan is adorable and a budding footballer as well!  I see good things in Rafa’s future with Real Madrid…