Ahead of Wednesday's game, the centre-back urged his Blancos team-mates to not let their concentration slip around the Argentine
Treating Barcelona captain Lionel Messi like a normal opponent will only end in El Clasico misery for Real Madrid, Raphael Varane has warned.
France international Varane and his fellow Madrid defenders will have their hands full when they square off against Barca's expensively assembled front three for the first time on Wednesday.
Luis Suarez and Antoine Griezmann have already scored four goals between them in December and will hope to help fire the champions three points clear of their La Liga title rivals at Camp Nou.