Former Manchester United defender gives damning verdict on 'struggling' Raphael Varane

Raphael Varane has found it hard to find his groove since arriving at Old Trafford.

The World Cup winner has experienced injury struggles this season that have hampered his progress, but some pundits have been underwhelmed by his efforts to take command of a leaky back line. The 28-year-old has only managed to help United keep four Premier League clean sheets this campaign.

Varane — who was bought for £34m from Real Madrid in the summer — was sidelined for the loss at Everton in what was his third injury setback this season. And former United full-back Paul Parker has not been impressed by what he has seen from Varane, even when the four-time Champions League winner has been fit.

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He mooted that the defender’s true quality is being exposed by the absence of former Madrid defensive partner Sergio Ramos. Speaking to BeMyBet he said: “I’ve been disappointed with him to be perfectly honest.

"Everyone’s talking about what he’s got in his cabinet. I’ve got a few things in my cabinet as well, but it doesn’t guarantee anything because at the end of the day I got them on the fact that there was a school of players that helped me get them.

He added: “He was helped a lot by Ramos. Ramos led him. We can see now that he’s not the same, he is not the effective player he was at Real Madrid without Ramos and that’s why Manchester United are not getting the full package, at this moment in time.”

Parker, who won three league titles and two FA Cup with United, went on the state that he sees “nothing different” between Varane and Victor Londelof in terms of calibre at the moment. He believes the France defender has not done enough to justify his price tag yet, either.

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