Insider: Raphael Varane set to explode at Man United after twist
Raphael Varane will be ready to explode for Man United in the second half of the season despite suffering from illness towards the end of France’s World Cup campaign.
That is the view of medical expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in injury and data analysis, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.
Varane missed Man United’s final six games before the break for the tournament with a hamstring injury but recovered to start six of France’s seven games in Qatar as they reached the final.
The 29-year-old was one of a number of the squad who suffered from an illness ahead of their loss to Argentina on Sunday (18 December) but was forced off in extra time due to fatigue.
Asked whether that could be bad news for Man United, Dinnery told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley: “Quite the contrary.
“Initially, there was a big question mark in regards to Raphael Varane’s participation in the World Cup due to the hamstring problem he picked up against Chelsea.
“He went into that tournament with very little accumulative load and hadn’t played competitive football.
“Man United gain a player who played in six of the seven available World Cup games. He got a lot of minutes into his legs, competitive minutes at a high level.
“They are going to have a player who is at a much better place than when he left the club.
“Not being involved in the Carabao Cup was not a big issue whatsoever.
“Looking beyond that, I think that stands him in really good stead for the second half of the season.”
In other news, Man United have a “concrete” interest in signing a World Cup winner.