Ferdinand rates Varane's debut and predicts who will take Man Utd's penalties

Rio Ferdinand has heaped praise on Raphael Varane after Manchester United’s 1-0 win over Wolves and believes the defender’s block to deny Francisco Trincao perfectly ‘encapsulated’ why the club splashed out £43million on his signature.

United supporters were made to wait for Varane’s debut following the 28-year-old’s arrival from Real Madrid earlier this month, but the 28-year-old did not disappoint as he featured for the first time away to Wolves at the weekend.

The Frenchman came away from Molineux with a clean sheet and provided the assist for Mason Greenwood’s late strike in the visitors’ hard-fought victory and a beaming Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said he was ‘delighted’ while discussing his new signing’s opening performance.

Club legend Ferdinand was also impressed with Varane’s debut and felt one phase of play, just moments into the second half, proved United were right to spend such a significant fee on the four-time Champions League winner this summer.

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‘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 sensational return to the north west has led to debate among fans surrounding United’s set-piece play, given Bruno Fernandes may be forced to hand over both penalty and free-kick duties.

According to Ferdinand, his iconic former team-mate will ‘100 per cent’ be taking spot-kicks this season, despite Fernandes scoring 13 times from the spot last term.

‘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.’

However, Ferdinand is confident Fernandes will understand the situation as he will be aware Ronaldo could be the man to steer United to their first piece of silverware since Solskjaer took charge.

‘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.’

The Red Devils find themselves in third place after three matches, with a record of two victories and a draw.

Solskjaer’s side will hope to put further pressure on Tottenham and West Ham above them when they play host to 17th-placed Newcastle after the international break.

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