Manchester United star must be confused about his current situation, says ex-club captain

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Rio Ferdinand has questioned Erik ten Hag’s decision to drop one of Manchester United’s most important players last season, Raphael Varane.

Erik ten Hag seemed to say that the omission of Raphael Varane for the Manchester derby was due to ‘tactical reasons’ but since then the defender hasn’t featured as much.

The French defender has been in and out of the side but will now have to contend with Victor Lindelof now coming into a bit of form for the Red Devils.

Lindelof scored the winner against Luton Town at Old Trafford and the Swedish defender looks to be ahead of the former Real Madrid player in the pecking order.

Ferdinand on Varane

Speaking on Ferdinand’s YouTube channel Five, the former United defender said: “We don’t know. If he’s on the bench, you think he must be fit.

“In my mind, when you’re on the bench you can play – because you could have to come on in the first minute if someone gets injured. So if you’re fit enough to travel and get on the bench, you’re fit [to play]. So I don’t know what the reason is.

“But I know that Varane is waking up and his head has got scramblers going off it in, because he’s thinking: ‘I’ve banged out four Champions League medals, I’ve played an integral part in all of those, I’ve played with the best players in the world, I’ve come to Man United and Jonny Evans is starting in front of me!’

Varane’s future

The French defender’s future at Old Trafford certainly looks bleak with Jonny Evans, 35, ahead of him in the pecking order but, up until his injury, the Northern Irish defender had done enough to prove he deserved to start.

United are in the market for a new defender with Jean-Clair Todibo looking to be the man Ten Hag wants according to CaughtOffside.

It would be a sad way for the defender, who was such a vital part of the team last season, to end his time in Manchester.