Manchester United striker Anthony Martial has sent a four-word message to Raphael Varane while watching the World Cup final.
The 29-year-old was named in Didier Deschamps’ Les Bleus starting line-up for this afternoon’s World Cup final against Argentina.
United’s number 19 was deemed fit enough to start after recovering from a virus that he was suffering with.
The defending champions are currently trailing 2-0 after Lionel Messi gave Argentina the lead from the penalty spot.
The penalty was awarded after Ousmane Dembele was adjudged to have fouled former Manchester United flop Angel Di Maria.
Di Maria doubled Argentina’s lead in the 36th minute with France all at sea.
Anthony Martial sends four-word message to Raphael Varane while watching World Cup final
Varane has won 14 of the 16 finals he’s contested during his career. Two of those victories have come with France in the 2018 World Cup final and the UEFA Nations League final.
Martial wrote on his Instagram story: “Bring back the cup Raphael Varane”.
United’s number nine would have hoped to have joined Varane in the 26-man France squad for Qatar, but Deschamps opted against calling-up the 27-year-old.
Having suffered three separate injuries during Erik ten Hag’s tenure, Martial’s short-term focus needs to be on proving his fitness for the twenty-time league champions and then he’ll no doubt force his way back into the French side.
Martial will be hoping that Varane can inspire his nation’s fightback against Messi’s Argentina.
Martial and Varane’s United teammate Lisandro Martinez is on the bench for Argentina with The Albiceleste boss Lionel Scaloni once again favouring Cristian Romero and Nicolas Otamendi, who is making his 100th Argentina appearance in the final, over United’s number six.