Rio Ferdinand has heaped praise on Raphael Varane after Manchester United’s victory over Wolves and believes the player’s block to deny Francisco Trincao ‘encapsulated’ why the club spent £43m on his signature.
United fans were made to wait for Varane’s debut after his arrival from Real Madrid this month, but the defender did not disappoint as he played for the first time against Wolves at the weekend.
The Frenchman came away from the game with a clean sheet and provided the assist for Mason Greenwood’s goal in their hard-fought win and Solskjaer said he was ‘delighted’ while discussing Varane’s opening performance.
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Ferdinand was also impressed with Varane’s debut and felt one phase of play, just moments into the second half of the game, proved the Red devils were right to sign the four-time Champions League winner this summer.
‘Do you know what I liked about him? The covering tackle he did when Trincao went past [Harry] Maguire on the right-hand side and he came across and blocked it,’ the ex-United and England centre-half said on his Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE YouTube channel.
‘That is why he’s there. That exact play is why he’s there because I don’t think anyone else makes that block playing before.
‘Those situations there when the game opens up a little bit, someone who manoeuvres past one of the other defenders and he flies past out of nowhere because he’s got the legs, the pace and the nous and he’s got the anticipation to see it.
‘That one play there and that phase encapsulated exactly why he’s there and what he adds to this team.’
Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to the club has led to debate among supporters surrounding United’s set-piece play, given Bruno Fernandes may be forced to hand over both penalty & free-kick duties.
According to Ferdinand, his former team-mate will ‘100 per cent’ be taking spot-kicks this campaign, despite Fernandes scoring 13 goals from the spot last season.
‘I think Bruno gives up penalties but doesn’t relinquish free-kicks and corners,’ Ferdinand added. ‘The free-kicks around the box, he’s going to be on them I think. I think his record demands that he should do that.
‘He takes the penalties, 100 per cent. They agree to give him the penalties but I think free-kicks around the box, Bruno’s just wiping the ball down and putting it down.’
But, Ferdinand is confident Fernandes will understand the situation as he will be aware Ronaldo could be the player to help United to their first piece of silverware since Solskjaer took over.
‘I think Bruno sees the bigger picture, that this guy can get us over the line to win us trophies,’ Ferdinand went on.
‘If that means my percentage of goal involvements goes down but he gets his hands on a big trophy, he’d take that all day long.’
