Manchester United have been handed a serious injury concern less than 10 days before the resumption of the Premier League after Raphael Varane limped off the pitch during the World Cup final.
Varane, who had been struggling with illness ahead of France's clash with Argentina, was named in the starting XI by Didier Deschamps. The United defender had been superb all competition, with many tipping the 29-year-old to be named in the team of the tournament for his superb performances while in Qatar.
A breathtaking 90 minutes could not separate the two sides as extra-time beckoned. Varane had managed to come through the majority of the match unscathed, yet United fans had their hearts in their mouths as the game drew to a close.
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Varane found himself in a foot race with Lautaro Martinez as the Frenchman did well to get himself between the striker and the ball. Yet seconds later, the United defender went down despite the pair not coming together at any point.
The centre-back was on his haunches behind the goal, eventually getting to his feet by the advertising boards. Varane then gingerly walked off in some discomfort, refusing help from the physios as he trudged back without help to the dugout.
Earlier in the game, Varane put his body on the line when heading a goal-bound shot away but it's unclear whether that had any impact on him coming off. Erik ten Hag will have been watching on anxiously as his star player looked to the sky in anguish as he headed back to the bench.
With United back in action against Burnley in the Carabao Cup on December 21 and a Premier League clash against Nottingham Forest on December 27, the Dutchman will be desperate to have his first-choice central defender available alongside Lisandro Martinez as soon as possible.
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