Raphael Varane has reportedly already made an impact on Manchester United’s coaching staff.
ESPN report that United coaches feel Varane is the best central defender at the club in terms of building up play quickly.
They believe that the French World Cup winner outshines Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof in that area.
That is relevant because Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly told Ole Gunnar Solskjaer he wants United to get the ball forward quicker.
Varane was bought to tighten up United’s defence, of course, but he is also elegant and composed on the ball.
He also played alongside Ronaldo for years at Real Madrid, so might be more in tune with how the Portuguese superstar wants to play.
United’s recent performances have been stodgy and disjointed, and improvement is needed.
Ronaldo has scored five goals in five games and Varane has settled well but there is definitely room for collective improvement.
With Maguire out for a period of weeks, Varane is the defence’s new leader already.
His partnership with Victor Lindelof could be a decent combination, and perhaps he can get the Swede playing more quickly out of defence too.
United will face an Everton side shorn of Dominic Calvert-Lewin at Old Trafford, but Salomon Rondon will still offer a towering aerial threat.
That might be new for Varane but it’s nothing he can’t handle while continuing to impress the coaches.
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