Despite being a fan of Manchester United’s newest recruit, Rio Ferdinand admits to having one key doubt over Raphael Varane.
Rio Ferdinand reckons Raphael Varane will be in for a stern test as the Premier League is nothing to what he has experienced in La Liga but feels he is up to the task.
The Frenchman is on the verge of completing a big-money move to Manchester United. It ends a decade-long spell at Real Madrid, where he developed into arguably one of Europe’s finest defenders.
Varane is set to take a medical soon and could be unveiled as a United player next week once he has served a period of self-isolation.
But while Ferdinand is certain Varane will make a great partner for Harry Maguire in defense, he questioned whether the 28-year-old can handle the quicker and more direct style of play Premier League teams commonly favor.
“On paper, it looks a very, very good combination, but he’s got to understand the English game is very different. You’ve got to go to Burnley and places like that,” he said on his FIVE YouTube channel.
“Sometimes it can be up and at ’em, a different style of football in the Premier League to anything he’s played in before.
“Can he deal with it? They’re the questions he’s going to get asked.
“Balls getting wrapped around his ear holes, crosses from different angles that he hasn’t seen on a consistent basis in Spain where they play more on the floor, slower football, slower build-up.
“So he’s going to be asked to defend in a different way and that’s where he’s going to have to show his real class, can he adapt? That’s the real question.
“I genuinely believe he’s got the tools to do that.”
Reports state that Varane will sign a four-year contract at Old Trafford, with an option for another 12 months included.
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