Raphael Varane can step up and be the “leader” of Manchester United ’s defence under Erik ten Hag next season, according to Mikael Silvestre.
Varane was signed by United last summer to much fanfare, but has so far failed to live up to his billing at Old Trafford. He cost the club £34million from Real Madrid at the start of the season, with the experienced centre-back signing a four-year contract.
A pivotal part of France’s 2018 World Cup win and four-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid, much was expected of Varane upon his arrival at United. Yet the 29-year-old has only featured in 26 games across all competitions so far this season and has therefore failed to establish a partnership with club captain Harry Maguire in central defence.
United’s overall negative outlook in what will be a fifth successive season without silverware has not helped things. But former United defender Silvestre believes his compatriot can turn things around when Ten Hag takes the reins after arriving from Ajax this summer.
“He has what it takes to be the leader of the United defence,” he told Genting Casino . “Individually, he is more than capable of stepping up and being one of the top defenders next season under the new manager.”
Varane has missed 17 United matches due to injury and illness this season, according to Transfermarkt. He has therefore often been thrown in at the deep end when returning to full fitness, forced to come back into a struggling side.
That was evident in United’s 3-1 defeat by Arsenal on Saturday, in which Varane played the full 90 minutes alongside Victor Lindelof, with Maguire left on the bench by Ralf Rangnick. Silvestre thinks he just needs a run of games to establish himself in what are still new surroundings.
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“I think this season has been difficult for him, but he has also missed a lot of games due to injury,” he said. “Whenever he has had a run of games in the team, we have seen the Varane that played so well for Real Madrid.
“The Arsenal match was his first game after a long absence and he didn’t have the luck or the composure in his performance. It was shaky start for the entire defence after conceding another early goal, and away from home that makes getting a positive result even more difficult. He wasn’t at his best, but there are circumstances that contributed to that.”
United are sixth in the Premier League, six points adrift of Arsenal in fourth, with four matches left to play. Varane is likely to be involved once again when Rangnick’s side host Chelsea on Thursday evening, before final league games against Brentford, Brighton and Crystal Palace.
