Gary Neville has now admitted that he’s perhaps noticed one thing that’s missing from Raphael Varane’s game at Manchester United.
Varane was taken off at half-time against Brentford on Saturday, in what Erik ten Hag labelled as a precaution.
It’s been an odd season for the Frenchman, who has played 29 games in total, but also been missing from the starting XI regularly.
Varane has suffered from a few injuries this campaign, but it also seems as if he’s just been overlooked by Ten Hag on occasion too.
There seems to be little doubt among Man United fans that Varane partnered with Lisando Martinez is still the side’s strongest pairing, even if that may change in the summer.
Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite seems to be firmly on the radar, a signing that would seem incredibly well advised.
But with Varane at least needed until the end of the season, Gary Neville has been sharing some thoughts on his United performances on The Overlap.
Neville initially complimented the 30-year-old, but thought his game lacked one key element to be among the elite.
Gary Neville says Raphael Varane doesn’t help the Manchester United players around him
Speaking on the podcast, Neville thought Varane didn’t have the leadership skills of a Virgil van Dijk or John Terry.
He explained: “When I watch Varane, Varane actually defends his part of the pitch very well and he defends his box very well, he heads a lot of balls out. He’s quite dominant in the air.
“I think he is just that type of centre half, and maybe he was at Madrid when he was playing alongside Ramos, who will always do his own job really well but I don’t think he will ever impact those players around him.
“That’s not a criticism by the way because to be fair I think there are many great centre-halves who do their own jobs really well, but don’t actually manage a back four.
“A great centre half who can manage a back four is your Van Dijk’s, your Terry’s, your great players of all times.”
Erik ten Hag is still lacking leaders at Old Trafford
Of course, Varane has proved his ability to win the game’s biggest competitions, he’s won the Champions League four times after all, but perhaps Manchester United expected him to be something he’s not.
When signing Varane, United may have imagined that he would be that leader, in a similar fashion to bringing Casemiro to the club.
But it hasn’t quite worked out that way, and United are still looking for players to take responsibility.
All that being said, Erik ten Hag looked particularly unhappy with one Man United player after Saturday’s draw.
The post 'When I watch': Gary Neville shares what he's been noticing about Raphael Varane when he plays for Man United appeared first on TBR Football.