Raphael Varane has admitted that playing for Manchester United in the Premier League has been far more "intense" than his spell in LaLiga with Real Madrid.
Varane arrived at Old Trafford last summer in a £34million deal from Los Blancos but endured a difficult maiden campaign in English football. The 29-year-old was restricted to just 24 league appearances following a number of injury issues and failed to live up to lofty expectations following his trophy-laden stint at the Bernabeu.
It was unclear whether or not Varane would retain his spot in the team ahead following Lisandro Martinez's £56m switch from Ajax in the summer. But despite starting the season on the bench, the Frenchman has struck up an impressive partnership with the United new boy in recent weeks - a partnership that has seen club captain Harry Maguire relegated to the bench.
And Varane has opened up on the huge difference between football in England and La Liga after spending the past 12 months adapting to the all-action style of the Premier League.
Speaking to TCL Global, Varane said: "I think in LaLiga teams prepare more the attacks, it's very technical. In England, it is faster and more intense. There are more counter-attacks so it's a different [kind of] football. I like both styles so it's a different experience for me now."
Varane's recent improvement follows comments made by former Red Devils centre-half Rio Ferdinand earlier in the summer. But while Ferdinand was critical of Varane's performances last year, he was adamant that the deep-rooted problems at the club were to blame for the defender's struggles.
Join the debate! Do you think Martinez and Varane are Man Utd's best defensive pairing? Let us know here.
The appointment of Erik ten Hag has sparked a big improvement both on and off the pitch for Manchester United, with Varane just one of the players who have thrived under the new Old Trafford regime.
Speaking back in June on his Vibe with Five YouTube channel, Ferdinand said: "He went from one team - the honours there tell you it was a functioning team at the top level, all players playing to their maximum consistently - and went into an absolute reverse situation where the team has zero functionality, no confidence, no guidance and no structure of where they're going.
"He went into an alien scenario where he's going: 'I have not seen this since youth team football". To go from that world-class operating and culture and standard on a daily basis to what is at Manchester United is a huge, huge shift.
"He's probably sitting there like a rabbit in the headlights thinking 'wow, what is this?' He hasn't been the player we expected... he would tell you that, but he couldn't tell you anything else. He'll be saying: 'I've got to up the levels next year. I need help.'"
