'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Premier League club Manchester United recently announced the signing of French defender Raphael Varane from Real Madrid. While the Red Devils were admittedly big fans of the Frenchman, they managed to work out the deal in a relatively short period of time.
Although the deeper details of the deal are yet to be revealed, it is expected that Varane will be on a wage of $300,000 per week. The fee is certainly commensurate with the quality the player displays.
Having earlier completed a long-drawn deal for Jadon Sancho, United have made it clear how serious they are about next season. With the recent contract extension for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and the signing of Raphael Varane, there is no doubt United will be gunning for glory next season.
Trending
Let's take a look at five reasons why Raphael Varane will succeed at Manchester United.
#5. Varane is yet to hit his prime
It could come as a surprise that a player like Raphael Varane is still yet to hit his prime.
For someone who has won so much, it seems almost unlikely that Raphael Varane's best years are ahead of him. However, the fact remains that he is still only 28 years old.
Having made his professional debut at the young age of 17, Varane already has 11 years of top-flight football under his belt. His resume is almost unparalleled: Varane has already won three La Ligas, four UEFA Champions Leagues and the FIFA World Cup.
Having spent a decade with Real Madrid, Varane has developed his game to an elite level. As is the case with most defenders, Varane is expected to hit his peak in the coming years.
It could be said that United have signed Varane at the most opportune time, considering he still has a lot to contribute.
#4. Varane's pace will suit the Premier League
It is a well known fact that Raphael Varane is one of the fastest centre-backs in the world.
Fans would agree that La Liga generally displays a slower tempo compared to the Premier League. While Varane has indeed been impressive during his time with Madrid, it can be said that his pace was not utilized to the maximum in La Liga.
As we all know, the Premier League has a reputation for being incredibly dynamic and fast-paced. Varane's speed and acceleration will be a key tool in his arsenal, as he will soon find out once he lines up in the red for Manchester United.
United fans certainly have a reason to be excited, considering Varane is one of the best defenders in the world.
#3. Varane would complement Harry Maguire well
Manchester United are expected to feature Raphael Varane alongside Harry Maguire in the centre-back position.
There is no doubt that Varane and Maguire would complement each other spectacularly. Standing at 1.91m and 1.94m respectively, the pairing would be one of the tallest in the Premier League.
With both players excellent in the air, they would definitely assert a sense of dominance upon their opponents. Considering Maguire's improvement over the last couple of years, he has now become one of the Premier League's best defenders.
The Varane-Maguire pairing would doubtless be tough to score against and could go on to emulate the Ferdinand-Vidic pairing from their glory days.
#2. Varane is a proven winner
Raphael Varane is one of the most successful footballers in the history of the game.
Certainly no stranger to silverware, Varane boasts a record for having won every trophy he has ever competed in. During his time with Los Blancos, Varane has won a host of trophies and created a stunning trophy cabinet for himself.
Over the past decade, Varane has won La Liga three times. He has also won three Supercopas, as well as one Copa del Rey. His most memorable achievements are his four UEFA Champions League titles within five years with Real Madrid and the much coveted FIFA World Cup in 2018.
Varane has also won the UEFA Super Cup twice and the FIFA Club World Cup on four different occasions. Considering the current United squad is starved of trophies, Varane's winning mentality will certainly be a welcome addition to the Old Trafford faithful.
#1. Varane will play in an already excellent backline
Manchester United already have one of the best defensive lines in England.
Harry Maguire, Varane's future partner at the back, has evolved into one of the best defenders in England. He is dominant in the air and has excellent distribution abilities.
At right-back, Aaron Wan-Bissaka is one of the best in the business. Known for his inch-perfect tackles and his speed, Wan-Bissaka is one of the hardest defenders to get past.
On the left, Varane will line up alongside Luke Shaw. Shaw is coming off the back of an incredible season, having finished second with United in the league and been a crucial member of the English national team at UEFA Euro 2020.
Famous for his pace and his excellent crossing, Shaw has been one of United's best players. Varane will be coming into an already excellent backline that has a lot of quality.
With the season kicking off in about two weeks, United fans will be smacking their lips waiting to see Varane line up in red at Old Trafford.
