Former Real Madrid Raphael Varane had cost Manchester United £34 million, and the club had no intention of spending another £46 million for a center-back just a year later.
In fact, United just did this by spending a lot of money to acquire Ajax defender Lisandro Martinez. After a disastrous defensive campaign in which United allowed 58 goals in 38 Premier League games, something had to be done.
With the signing of Martinez for the second time in three years, Erik ten Hag now has a center-back he can rely on. Raphael Varane hasn’t been awful; he just hasn’t contributed to finding a solution. Yet, the French center-back’s major problem has been his level of fitness.
Since he joined United, his lack of dependability has been seen even in the preseason games. He began and played for 45 minutes against Liverpool before suffering a slight injury and missing the match against Melbourne Victory.
Varane was eligible to start only 20 of the 37 Premier League games last season. He lost time due to two injuries he sustained while playing for France. The Frenchman had moments of brilliance during his first campaign at Manchester United.
His performance in his debut against Wolves was outstanding, and he also put on a strong performance away at Tottenham. But because their center-back teammate Harry Maguire was having trouble, the two were unable to forge an effective connection.
Varane, Maguire, Victor Lindelof, and Eric Bailly may be competing to partner with Lisandro Martinez after he settles in. There will be a lot of games to play, which would help them rotate.
Prior to the World Cup, United has 16 Premier League games, six Europa League games, and two League Cup games. 24 games between August and November make up that total.
The former Real Madrid defender has not yet demonstrated that he can be counted on by the club to be available every week. Erik ten Hag’s decision that United needs an additional center-back is understandable given the upcoming World Cup and an international break.
If the Frenchman can stay healthy, Varane and Martinez might make a very good defensive pairing and be United’s first choice. The 29-year-old’s fitness issues are likely to persist, giving Maguire and Lindelof the opportunity to succeed. Also, include Bailly in this list if he stays.
Raphael Varane is a world-class center-back, but he still has a lot to prove when it comes to dependability. Lisandro Martinez gives United additional security in a crucial position ahead of the upcoming campaign.
