According to Rio Ferdinand, Raphael Varane’s partnership with Lisandro Martinez has changed United
Released: 1:46 am EDT, Oct. 24, 2022 | Updated: 1:47 AM EDT, Oct. 24, 2022
Rio Ferdinand has praised Raphael Varane’s partnership with Lisandro Martinez and said Manchester United could struggle to maintain their unbeaten run without the France international.
The Red Devils secured a draw against Chelsea on Saturday night but lost their star defender Varane to injury after he was forced off just before the 60-minute mark.
Ferdinand has said Varane – who is now ready for November’s World Cup – will be a “huge loss” for Erik ten Hag and his United squad as he brings “speed, experience and physicality” to the team.
Rio Ferdinand has praised Raphael Varane’s partnership with Lisandro Martinez
Varane (left) and Martinez (right) played for United against Leicester in September
If Varane is considered fit enough, he will take part in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. As a result, the France international will be absent from Manchester United for between three and four weeks.
If Varane is out injured he will still miss a number of games for the Red Devils as he undergoes a rehabilitation program for the injury he picked up against Chelsea on Saturday night.
Ferdinand has said Victor Lindelof and Martinez will do a “good job” filling in for Varane but said the 29-year-old offers the “speed, experience and physicality” United need to succeed.
Ferdinand says Varane (right) brings “speed, experience and physicality” to the United team
Hence, Ferdinand said Varane’s absence was a “huge loss” for Erik ten Hag and his Manchester United squad.
Speaking on his YouTube channel FIVE, Ferdinand said: “It seems to me that it won’t be Harry Maguire coming in now. It looks like it will [Victor] Lindelof.’
The former BT Sport footballer and pundit went on to say: “Lindelof is decent, I think he’ll come in and do a job, it just depends how long he’s asked to do that job.”
Varane left the pitch in tears (above) with an injury that puts his World Cup spot in question
He was clearly uncomfortable on the pitch and immediately went down after injuring his knee
“Martinez has been top notch this season but Varane gives us that something, that speed, that experience and that physicality,” Ferdinand continued. “I think he could be a big loss.
“You need both of them [Varane and Martinez] together again. We saw right away that the two of them made a different team out of us, it’s as simple as that.”
However, Varane’s place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar could be in jeopardy as he left the field in tears after less than 60 minutes against Chelsea on Saturday night.
Varane appeared to have injured his knee trying to carve out a pass to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Varane (pictured above) received immediate help from his teammates after the crash
The France centre-back was devastated with the World Cup less than a month away
The 29-year-old brought his right foot away from the body to try to reach for the ball and parry the attack.
His attempts to quell the threat, however, left him in a pile of visible pain after the impact seemed to jar his knee as he planted his foot in the ground.
The France international required immediate treatment and had obvious ailments before being substituted for Lindelof.
The nature and extent of Varane’s injury are yet to be confirmed. As a result, France coach Didier Deschamps will be sweating about his fitness.
