Raphael Varane has been one of the best centre-back signings that Manchester United has made over a decade. Sir Alex Ferguson was credited for signing Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic and turning them into world-class centre-backs.
Those days, any team should fear to play against Manchester United and the powerful duo just dominated every opposition attack. Since the left, United did sign many centre-backs but none were as close as these two players.
Many of the newly signed defenders lacked consistency, some were slow, some were injury prone and Solksjaer knew that if he wants to win, he needs to strengthen his back-line.
Must Read– Robert Pires: Varane and Maguire will form an excellent duo
That was the time when Manchester United signed Harry Maguire from Leicester City and they took the first step towards the historic development of the squad. He did cost them about £80m but he proved to be a valuable asset.
Harry Maguire has been fantastic for both, club and the country, and from the two years, he has improved Manchester United’s defensive output. United was not having a powerful partner for Harry Maguire, someone who we can rely on. Victor Lindelof was too slow and Eric Bailly was injury-prone.
This season, United had taken the second step and signed Raphael Varane from Real Madrid for a much lesser fee. A highly experienced centre-back who has played for 10 years at Real Madrid and has won four Uefa Champions League and a host of other titles, he was the final puzzle of United’s defensive line-up.
There is a lot of expectations on their shoulders and Varane has admitted that he still needs time to develop a strong understanding with Harry Maguire. While talking to the club’s official website, he said:
“Yeah, I think he [Harry] is a great player. I think we have to work hard to feel comfortable on the pitch. Every defender in this team, we have to feel connected on the pitch and we will be better together. We have to move together, we have to be motivated together.”
“We have to be moving with one another so that’s an important connection and we have to feel comfortable on the pitch. With Sergio Ramos I had 10 years to know him and how he moved and how I have to move to be complementary with him. Every day we learn and every day we will do better and improve.”
We can already predict that in the coming two years, Varane and Maguire will be dominating Premier League and their bond will be a huge talking point. It will take time but it will really fruitful.
We just love to watch them play together.
