Raphael Varane is relishing the increased competition for a first-team spot at Manchester United following the capture of Lisandro Martinez - even if his arrival is likely to mean that either he or Harry Maguire will be relegated to the bench.
After weeks of negotiations, United finally struck a deal worth £55.3million with Ajax to bring Martinez to Old Trafford last Sunday. The versatile defender was a key player in the Ajax team that clinched their third Eredivisie title in four years under the guidance of Erik ten Hag last season, and the Dutchman was desperate to bring the 24-year-old to Manchester to help shore up United's defence.
Ten Hag has already dropped a major hint that Martinez will be his first-choice centre-back by moving Maguire away from his preferred role on the left-hand side of defence. Despite being naturally right-footed, Maguire has often been deployed as the left-sided centre-back in a pairing since joining from Leicester City.
However, Maguire has been nudged into a new role during United's pre-season tour, which indicates that Martinez is set to be accommodated in his preferred berth ahead of the Red Devils' skipper. That could see Varane, who featured as a right-sided centre-back last term, drop out at the expense of the captain.
But Varane is adamant that Martinez's arrival and genuine competition for first-team action can only be a good thing for Man United as they bid to bounce back from their worst-ever Premier League campaign - and he isn't willing to give up his spot without a fight.
Speaking on Martinez's arrival, Varane told BBC Sport : "Competition is good for the team. Harry [Maguire] is a very important player for us. He's the captain and obviously he has a lot of good qualities. The team will always be better with this competition. This is normal. Every great club is like this. If everyone wants to fight for the team, that's a good thing."
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Varane only arrived at Old Trafford 12 months ago in a £34m deal from Real Madrid, but the former World Cup winner endured an injury-ravaged maiden campaign in the Premier League.
And after Maguire also failed to live up to expectations, neither of the two central defenders who started last season as the club's first-choice pairing can be guaranteed a starting berth alongside Martinez.
Unfortunately for Maguire, the scrutiny that hung over him last term has failed to dissipate over the summer, and he was roundly booed by fans during United's 3-1 win over Crystal Palace in Melbourne earlier this week.
But Ten Hag has urged Maguire - and the rest of the United team - to silence any critics with improved performances. Speaking in Australia on Friday, the Dutchman said: "About Maguire, we heard it, but you see, if you perform, it slows down [quietens down]. I think the team - and Harry Maguire - were impressed by the way we played. I don't think it's the manner to find out if I understand it. It's about how can we change it."
