Los Angeles FC star Hugo Lloris has now put the spotlight on former Manchester United and France defender Raphael Varane for one all-important reason.
Raphael Varane lifted both the League Cup and the FA Cup during his time at Old Trafford under former Red Devils and Ajax manager Erik ten Hag.
The 33-year-old Frenchman struck up a superb defensive partnership with Lisandro Martinez after the Red Devils signed him from Real Madrid in 2021.
Former France and Manchester United centre-back Varane made 95 appearances for the Red Devils during his three seasons at Old Trafford after his initial £34m move.
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Hugo Lloris namechecks Raphael Varane’s vital role in France’s 2018 World Cup triumph in Russia
Hugo Lloris was captain of the France national team that lifted the 2018 World Cup trophy after Les Bleus’ 4-2 win over Croatia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
Raphael Varane was still at Real Madrid at that time and the former Manchester United defender was a key part of Didier Deschamps’ trophy-winning side.
Lloris said that Varane was part of a core leadership team for France at the FIFA tournament alongside former Man Utd midfielder Paul Pogba.
“I think a lot of pride, especially because you lift the trophy in front of your family, in front of your friends who travel for this final,” he said on Rio Ferdinand Presents.
“I always felt that this leadership has to be shared inside the changing room, so it’s not only the success of one man: it’s the success of a team. Obviously, there [were] leaders in that team.
“There [were] four, five, six players that have this leadership and transmit this leadership to the group.”
When asked by Rio Ferdinand about France’s ‘locker-room leaders’ during the World Cup, Lloris added: “Raphael Varane, Blaise Matuidi, Paul Pogba, Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann [and himself].”
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Hugo Lloris on what he noticed about former Man Utd and France defender Raphael Varane at a young age
Varane reached a second consecutive World Cup final with France, but Didier Deschamps’ men fell short to Argentina in a thrilling penalty shootout loss in 2022.
Lloris, who retired from international duty after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, talked up what he saw about Varane during the Frenchman’s early rise for Les Bleus.
“He was really mature, really early, you know? When he came to the national team, he was only 18 years old,” he said.
“He was really fast, really good in the air. He could be aggressive when it was needed, winning duels. But his game was more about anticipating, you know, the passing or the movement of the striker.
“And he’s the one who gives a lot of stability to the defence of our generation. You know, he was the number one, you know. And then a great leader, a great leader in the changing room.”
Varane, much like former France teammate Lloris, would bow out of international duty with his country after the 2022 World Cup final.
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