Raphael Varane Urged to Retire if He Can’t Break into Manchester United Side
Pundit Craig Burley believes that Raphael Varane should consider retiring if he cannot secure a place in the current Manchester United side.
United’s Struggles Continue
Manchester United suffered their 10th defeat of the season in a 1-0 loss to Newcastle United. Despite dominating the game, United failed to secure a victory.
Erik ten Hag, the manager, chose to start Luke Shaw alongside Harry Maguire in defense, leaving Varane on the bench. This decision has raised doubts about Varane’s future at Old Trafford.
Varane’s Demotion
Once a key player in United’s defense, Varane has now fallen down the pecking order under ten Hag. The team has been leaking goals without him, leading Burley to suggest that Varane should seriously consider retiring.
Burley expressed his opinion on ESPN, stating, “[Diogo] Dalot is having a hard time on the left, he [ten Hag] wants Luke Shaw to play left-hand side center half because he wants him to pass the ball out with his left foot. But you have to have a semblance of control in the game to do that. You have to be able to defend. If I was Raphael Varane, I would call it quits. Hang my boots up because if I can’t get into the United side, I might as well retire.”
Recent reports suggest that Varane’s relationship with ten Hag has deteriorated, and he has been overlooked in favor of Jonny Evans. Bayern Munich has shown interest in signing Varane in January, while Saudi Pro League sides are also considering a move for him.
Ten Hag denies any personal issues with Varane, attributing his absence from the starting XI to tactical reasons and Maguire’s return to form. He stated, “As I said, it is about tactical reasons why I chose these partnerships. I think Harry and Jonny did well. What I said last year, Harry didn’t play a lot, so I was very happy with Rapha’s performances. I have always been happy with his performance. But in this moment, Harry is playing very well and there is internal competition.”
Varane’s future at Manchester United remains uncertain, and it remains to be seen whether he will choose to retire or seek a move to another club.
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