Raphael Varane reveals why Casemiro could join Manchester United

selmacoffey8 (20)in #news • 2 years ago

Manchester United defender Raphael Varane spent eight years with Casemiro at Real Madrid and they won 16 trophies together with the Spanish giants, including four Champions Leagues.

The 30-year-old Brazil international completed his £70m switch to the Red Devils on Monday night and was unveiled to the Old Trafford crowd before their impressive 2-1 Premier League victory against rivals Liverpool.

Casemiro is not the only Real Madrid player who have joined Manchester United recently, as Raphael Varane also made the decision to move to the Red Devils last summer.

The Frenchman player is pleased to re-join forces with his former teammate and explained the reasons behind Casemiro's decision to part ways with Real Madrid and move to the Premier League giants.

"Very excited, I know his quality very well," Varane told PA.

"He can bring this balance on the team and his mentality.

"He's a warrior, so I think he will really enjoy the English football. I know him.

"I think it was a perfect night for him to meet Old Trafford because the atmosphere was absolutely amazing, and he brings a victory so it's nice.

"He doesn't need my help to make his choice. I know exactly what he feels and why he's coming here after what he lived in Madrid.

"He needs a new challenge. I know exactly why he chose this club.

"It's a similar process that I had so obviously I wish him the best and I'm speaking with him a lot, but he didn't need me to make his choice."

Raphael Varane says Manchester United have signed a "warrior" in his former Real Madrid teammate Casemiro.

Casemiro completed his £70million transfer to United on Monday night and was unveiled in front of the Old Trafford crowd prior to their uplifting win over Liverpool.

Varane was teammates with Casemiro for eight years at Madrid, where they won four Champions Leagues together before Casemiro collected a fifth against Liverpool in May.

Casemiro arrived at Old Trafford around three hours before kick-off but did not meet his new teammates before or after their 2-1 triumph and Varane dispelled speculation he had persuaded the Brazilian to join the club.

“Yeah, very excited," Varane said of his reunion with Casemiro. "I know perfectly his quality. He can bring this balance to the team and his mentality. He's a warrior, so I think he will really enjoy English football. I know him (laughs).

“I think it was a perfect night for him to meet Old Trafford because the atmosphere was absolutely amazing, and he brings a victory so it’s nice!

“I think he doesn't need my help to make his choice. I know exactly what he feels and why he's coming here after what he lived in Madrid.

“He needs a new challenge, I know exactly what he feels, and I know exactly why he chose this club. It's a similar process that I had so obviously I wish him the best and I'm speaking with him a lot, but he didn't need me to make his choice.”

Varane was recalled for his first start under manager Erik ten Hag and formed an impressive partnership with new signing Lisandro Martinez.

The £55.3m Argentine excelled in the physical duels with Liverpool's forwards and was mentored expertly by Varane, who savoured United's first Premier League success against their rivals since March 2018.

“He brings to the team his determination, his motivation and, yeah, he has this mentality, this fighting spirit," Varane said of Martinez. "He showed it tonight.

"I really enjoyed it on the pitch tonight - the atmosphere, the spirit of the team," he explained. “I came to England to feel these emotions after everything I left in Madrid, and this feeling was amazing. Absolutely amazing.

“The crowd, the fans and the fight on the pitch was amazing. Absolutely. I enjoyed it.

"We know the potential of the team but tonight we really needed a proud reaction in front of our fans. It was absolutely necessary.

“I hope it's the real starting of the season (for us) because the two first games the mentality was not good enough. We had to fight like we fight tonight.

“We know what we can do but we did it tonight and I hope we keep pushing like this. “We try to stick together. We're a team so we fight for each other. That's why I really enjoyed it.”

Ten Hag revealed Varane has been following a personal fitness programme after missing 17 games last season through muscular injuries.

The 29-year-old came on at half-time in the 4-0 drubbing by Brentford and his delayed start to the season appeared to benefit Varane as he led an otherwise young back four to three points against Liverpool.

United's approach against Liverpool was in stark contrast to their lethargic performances against Brighton and Brentford when Varane was able to pinpoint issues from the dugout.

“It's difficult to explain why but we didn't start the games with the same intensity, with the same fighting spirit," he explained. “We had the motivation but it's difficult to explain why it was starting with this low energy.

“Football, it's about energy, it's about when you have to push, when you have to stay calm, when you have to attack. Tonight we show great control. It was a mature performance tonight."

"I feel very good," he added of his fitness. "I was ready for the start of the season, but I didn't start so I had more time to keep building the fitness. We know how demanding the Premier League is, so I work a lot to be fit, to be ready.

"I'm ending one beautiful journey in Madrid whilst starting another in Manchester as determined as ever to win football matches, win trophies and make our fans proud by bringing success to this great club.

"Everybody knows the history of Manchester United, the significance of the club around the world and what it means to its supporters. To represent United is an honour and I am ready to give everything to help the team achieve our ambitions."

Casemiro could make his debut for the Red Devils on Saturday lunchtime when they travel to St Mary's for their Premier League encounter against Southampton.

2 years ago in #news by selmacoffey8 (20)

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