Erik ten Hag has had little choice but to drop the French defender, who has looked a shadow of his former self this season
“Manchester United is one of the most iconic clubs in world football and the chance to come here and play in the Premier League is something I couldn’t turn down. I want to make an impact here and I will give everything to become part of this club’s illustrious history.”
Raphael Varane sounded like a man motivated to add another trophy-laden entry to his illustrious career when he was unveiled as a United player in August 2021. The club invested £40 million ($49m) in the 28-year-old after his decision to reject a new contract at Real Madrid, which felt like a shrewd piece of business at the time.
After 10 seasons, 360 appearances, four Champions League titles and three La Liga crowns, Varane left Santiago Bernabeu as a Real legend. But the Spanish giants haven't missed him. Los Blancos stormed to a league and European double in their first season without Varane, who must have secretly regretted leaving after a disastrous debut year at Old Trafford. He struggled to adapt to life in English football and battled niggling injuries as United fell to sixth in the Premier League.
The appointment of Erik ten Hag sparked a return to form for Varane in 2022-23, though, as he forged a formidable partnership with new signing Lisandro Martinez. That solid foundation at the back was crucial as the Red Devils returned to the Champions League places while also ending a five-year trophy drought with success in the Carabao Cup.
Despite entering his 30s, Varane was still proving he could deliver at the highest level and deservedly had a guaranteed place in Ten Hag's starting XI. But in the space of just a few months, that dynamic has completely changed.
The World Cup winner has suddenly dropped to fourth in United's centre-back pecking order, and can't even get in the team ahead of Jonny Evans – the 35-year-old warhorse who re-joined the club on a surprise free transfer in the summer window. Varane doesn't have any cause to complain, either.
United now look like a more cohesive unit in Varane's absence, and it's difficult to see any way back for him. So what exactly has gone so wrong for the former Madrid talisman?
Getty ImagesMaguire's revival
When pressed on whether there is any internal issue with Varane that explains his recent omission from United's line-up, Ten Hag told reporters last week: "Absolutely not. It is about tactical reasons why I chose these partnerships. I think Harry [Maguire] and Jonny [Evans] did well. Last year, Harry didn't play a lot, so I was very happy with Rapha's performances. I have always been happy with his performance. But in this moment, Harry is playing very well and there is internal competition."
Maguire's United career appeared to be all but over after he was stripped of his captaincy duties in the summer, but he turned down a transfer to West Ham because he still believed he had plenty to offer at Old Trafford. He's been proven right in recent weeks, with United finally stringing a few wins together after his return to the team in the right-sided centre-back slot.
Ten Hag has always avoided playing Maguire and Varane together, and it was clear to see why after the latter was introduced as a substitute following an early injury to Evans in United's 4-3 defeat at Copenhagen in the Champions League. Yes, a controversial red card for Marcus Rashford put the visitors on the backfoot after going 2-0 up, but that was no excuse for United's complete capitulation at the back.
With Martinez still recovering from surgery on a foot issue that has kept him out of action since September, Evans and Victor Lindelof have been playing ahead of Varane, who now has a real fight on his hands to usurp Maguire again. Ten Hag added: "The build-up is not that fluid when one of them is playing from the left centre-back position because I think Licha, obviously, Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof, they are right-footed, but they can play really comfortably with their left and make the right angles, then you can construct a better formation where you can start to play."
AdvertisementGetty'Cannot handle the pace'
Even before Varane was dropped from Ten Hag's starting XI for United's first derby clash of the season against Manchester City, there were clear signs of decline in his game. "United have certain shortcomings," former United assistant coach Rene Meulensteen said in an interview with. "[Varane] cannot handle the pace. The Premier League is dynamic. Everything goes at 100 kilometres per hour."
Varane has lost the turn of pace that made him so difficult to get past at Real, and he's not regularly winning physical duels anymore. He's also been caught out of position numerous times this season, which has allowed opposition forwards to get in behind far too easily.
Even his technical abilities appear to be on the wane, with basic passes going astray and poor decision making costing United dearly when trying to build from the back. Varane's body is failing him, and the motivation levels that fuelled his initial switch to Old Trafford appear to have dropped to zero.
It is also possible that, consciously or unconsciously, the former France international is hammering home a point he made about the risks of burnout during pre-season. Varane was baffled by the Premier League's new stoppage-time rules, which have served to extend a large number of matches up to and beyond the 100-minute mark.
"From the managers and players, we have shared our concerns for many years now that there are too many games, the schedule is overcrowded, and it's at a dangerous level for players' physical and mental well-being," he wrote on social media. "Despite our previous feedback, they have now recommended for next season: longer games, more intensity, and less emotions to be shown by players. We just want to be in good condition on the pitch to give 100 percent to our club and fans. Why are our opinions not being heard?"
It appears that Varane has taken his foot off the gas because his enthusiasm for the sport has been dampened irreversibly. He is playing like a man that has lost faith in a system that seemingly has very little regard for the wellbeing of the players.
Getty'Feel like I'm suffocating'
Varane first voiced his concerns over the increasing physical demands placed upon players after the 2022 World Cup, which saw France reach their second successive final – only to lose against a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina on penalties. The United star won his 93rd cap in that contest, but subsequently announced his retirement from international football, much to the frustration of Les Bleus boss Didier Deschamps.
"I gave everything, physically and mentally," Varane said when explaining his decision to . "But the very highest level is like a washing machine, you play all the time and you never stop. We have overloaded schedules and play non-stop. Right now, I feel like I’m suffocating and that [Varane] the player is gobbling up [Varane] the man."
In the short-term, Varane appeared to benefit from the extra time off during international breaks, as he played a key role in United's impressive run at the start of the new year. However, a foot injury halted his momentum in the closing stages of the season, and he has yet to rediscover his best form.
It's clear now that Varane made a mistake calling time on his France career so early. He might not have been happy with such a rigorous schedule, but that was helping him to maintain his rhythm and discipline. Most players only tend to walk away from the international stage when they are starting to think about hanging up their boots altogether.
According to , Varane has accepted the fact he is no longer first-choice at United, which suggests that his mentality has indeed shifted. Varane's insatiable desire to win silverware never dwindled at the Bernabeu, and he held himself to the highest possible standards. Unfortunately for United, that version of Varane is long gone.
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Getty ImagesSaudi escape route
With the January transfer window fast approaching, there is a genuine possibility that United could cut their losses on Varane. There is a clear difference in how he is approaching day-to-life at Old Trafford now compared to Maguire, who will be more determined than ever stay in the team.
The England international has a burning desire to prove his critics wrong and leave a lasting legacy behind in Manchester. It remains to be seen whether he achieves that goal in the long-term, given the fact United have taken a step back as a collective under Ten Hag, but there are no question marks over his commitment.
Varane simply cannot match his resurgent team-mate in that regard. Regular bench duty might well be damaging his ego, but he's more likely to jump ship than put in the hard graft required to regain Ten Hag's favour.
A winter move to Saudi Arabia is reportedly a viable option, with Al-Nassr among the Pro League clubs considering a swoop for Varane. A reunion with former Real and United colleague Cristiano Ronaldo might well appeal to the Frenchman, along with a hefty upgrade on his current £300,000 weekly salary.
Football in the Middle East is very much on the rise, with the likes of Karim Benzema, Neymar, N'Golo Kante, Riyad Mahrez and Roberto Firmino all having followed Ronaldo out of Europe in the summer window. Despite the addition of those star names, the standard of football in Saudi's top division is mediocre at best. The fixtures will still come thick and fast, particularly for Al-Nassr as they negotiate their way through the AFC Champions League, but Varane wouldn't be under nearly as much pressure to perform at his best consistently at Mrsool Park.
He could start winding his career down properly in Saudi Arabia and earn a king's ransom that would set him up forever in retirement. It certainly wouldn't be a surprise if Varane is already considering the possibility, despite the fact he remains under contract at United until 2025.