Like many Manchester United supporters, Rio Ferdinand has finally got what he wanted: Raphael Varane is heading to Old Trafford.
Di Marzio was first to report details of an agreement between Manchester United and Real Madrid last night.
Varane is expected to sign with United in the next few days to formally seal his move.
Rio Ferdinand is a long time admirer of Varane. After leaving the Red Devils in 2014, he was asked on Twitter which defender he would sign as his replacement. He picked out the Frenchman, although was quite sure Madrid would not sell – Varane had started in and won the Champions League final just days earlier.
Now in 2021
Fast forward through the long journey from 2014 to the present day and Manchester United finally are set to sign the defender.
Ferdinand had plenty to say on the new arrival. He told his Five YouTube channel: “What a signing. There’s been talk in the transfer market since it opened up – it must have come from the player. He must have wanted to leave, and be part of the new Man United way, the project that’s going ahead.
“With Ole Gunnar Solskjaer signing a new deal, Sancho coming in – the talent they’ve got there, the ability to play alongside Maguire after he did so well at the Euros probably played a part. I just think he sees this as a better project than what he’s got at Real Madrid now.
“When you watch him sometimes he almost purrs, he’s got that pace, that poise. We’ve signed a genuine world-class centre back. His list of honours is ridiculous, it’s as long as my arm.”
Varane, 28, has a big challenge to live up to the hype which surrounds his move to Manchester United. But he will be up for the fight.
A desire to test himself is one of the reasons Varane wants to leave Real Madrid. He could quite easily have stayed in his comfort zone and seen out the remainder of his career in La Liga.
He deserves credit for taking the option to try a new challenge, and he will get one at United for sure. There are huge demands, and Varane will be judged on silverware. Fortunately he is used to that each and every season at Real, a club where sometimes the Champions League is not even enough.
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