The four Champions League winners medals and a World Cup triumph aside, Raphael Varane’s debut against Wolves proved that Manchester United have signed themselves a world-class defender.
Clearly, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had two positions prioritised this summer as he sought to strengthen his side further. The right-sided winger position, which has been vacant for a number of years, was filled by Jadon Sancho.
Further back, serial winner Raphael Varane was added to the squad on the day of United’s Premier League curtain-raiser against Leeds United. He has made just one appearance for his new side as the first international break of the season coincided with his debut. In addition to having another world-class player at his disposal, Solskjaer now has a vocal leader as well.
Big match motivation Les Bleus' style 🔥💪#FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/bE63khWWfq
— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) September 8, 2021
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Varane is a senior figure for his nation and in a video released by the French national team on Twitter, he can be heard driving his teammates on in the dressing room. In club interviews so far, the 28-year-old was been shy but he did not hold back as he attempted to motivate his teammates, as seen above.
“We give everything, we regret nothing, guys,” he tells his teammate before a game. “It’s now, it’s now, 90 minutes. Afterwards, we’ll have regrets.
“It’s now, we don’t talk about it at half-time. The right attitude is now, guys. This is it guys, we win, we win. Let’s win this thing guys, let’s go!”
At half-time, the decorated defender was spurring his team on once again after some words of encouragement from Paul Pogba.
“We’re focused right to the end,” Varane said during the interval in their win over Finland. “We leave them nothing. They live off our mistakes, we give them nothing. We stay focused. We play simple. 45 minutes, guys. Come on, come on!”
