Manchester United announced an agreement to sign Raphael Varane on July 27. He has not arrived in England yet, as he has been tying up loose ends and saying goodbyes in Madrid, while United complete all the paperwork for his arrival.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had explained that Varane’s visa had to be sorted out in alignment with Brexit, along with all the arrangements for the defender to quarantine.
Now there is a set date for Varane’s arrival. Fabrizio Romano reports Varane will fly into Manchester on Monday.
The journalist adds that Varane is ‘buzzing’ to get started at Manchester United.
When will Varane make his first appearance?
Manchester United’s final pre-season friendly is at Old Trafford on Saturday 7th August against Everton.
It is unclear if Varane’s quarantine will be finished by then, or if he will be judged fit enough to feature. He did undertake a couple of sessions with Real Madrid last week.
Beyond that, United will be full steam ahead for the Premier League opener at home to Leeds United on Saturday 14th. The lack of preparation for the team’s Euro 2020 stars is not ideal.
Varane could go straight into the line-up. Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof are in similar situations as they have also not played a single minute of pre-season yet.
The Frenchman is talented enough to go straight into United’s line-up versus Leeds. But it also would not be a total surprise to see him held out, and for Maguire and Lindelof to start the very first game, while Varane settles on and off the pitch.
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