Patrica Evra has voiced his delight at Manchester United’s acquisition of Raphael Varane, comparing the Frenchman to Rio Ferdinand.
Speaking to The Athletic, Patrice Evra has heaped praise on Manchester United over the signing of Raphael Varane. The former Manchester United left-back believes that the Frenchman could make a huge difference at Old Trafford, even comparing him to his old teammate Rio Ferdinand, reports Goal.
Evra’s comments come just a few days after the club announced the capture of the talented defender, on a deal worth around £41 million excluding add-ons. It was a massive coup for the Red Devils, who had already roped in Borussia Dortmund superstar Jadon Sancho in the summer.
The former Real Madrid man has had tremendous success at Santiago Bernabeu, securing four Champions League titles and three Spanish league titles. He had also won the FIFA World Cup 2018 with France, leading many to believe that he could be the defensive leader Manchester United have been missing, ever since the departure of Nemanja Vidic.
Evra, a Manchester United legend himself with almost 400 competitive appearances and five Premier League titles, went one step further by comparing his compatriot to his ex-United teammate Rio Ferdinand.
Speaking to The Athletic, he said, “Varane reminds me of Rio Ferdinand. Great with the ball, great in the air. He’s the complete centre-back. I remember my first game with the French national team and I was so impressed. He was so young yet so good with the ball, so fast and his anticipation was perfect.”
It is certainly quite a compliment given the fact that Ferdinand was one of the defenders to play for Manchester United. During his time at Old Trafford, the Englishman had six Premier League titles and made over 500 appearances in the English top-flight. He was the leader for the Red Devils at the back.
Whether or not Varane can replicate the success Rio Ferdinand enjoyed at Old Trafford remains to be seen. But Evra has lauded the Frenchman’s abilities, stating:, “He’s calm with the ball and he can score too. It’s a top, top signing for Manchester United.”
Evra is not the only one to praise Manchester United either, with Gary Lineker and Darren Ambrose also lauding the Premier League giants for the capture of the French international, who is more than capable of helping the club restore its lost glory.
