Raphael Varane has been criticised for failing to adapt to the Premier League since joining Manchester United.
Since arriving at Old Trafford, Varane has made 22 appearances for the club. The 28-year-old has also suffered his fair share of injuries including groin and hamstring problems, but has generally impressed supporters.
Those fitness issues stopped the Frenchman from playing as many matches as he would have liked. And former Manchester City defender Danny Mills believes that he has been proved right by the ex-Real Madrid man's form in a United short.
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He told Genting Casino : "I questioned Varane’s signing when he first came in and whether he could deal with the intensity of our league. He had quite a few injury problems.
"In La Liga, you’re probably playing seven or eight tough games a season; in the Premier League, every week is a tough game.
"It doesn’t matter if you’re playing Manchester City or Burnley, it’s going to be hard, it’s going to be physical and you need to be robust. I always had doubts about whether he was going to be robust enough, and I got criticised when he first came in for saying that.
"Subsequently, he’s been injured and in and out of the team, maybe I got lucky with that comment, but that’s the way that I saw it."
Despite Mills' criticism, Ralf Rangnick has praised the defender. He commented recently: "I am happy that he has been continuously training, having had no injuries.
"This was probably his biggest issue in the first weeks and months that he has always had to deal with some injuries. After having trained or played two or three games he was out for another six weeks.
"For me, it is most important that he stays in good health and that he doesn't get any further, most of all, muscle injuries. If that happens, he can obviously develop into one of the best centre-backs in the league."
Manchester United travel to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday for the derby. City currently sit top of the Premier League, 19 points clear of their fierce rivals.
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