Varane aims for a 'new start' with Ten Hag after a tricky debut season

Raphael Varane aims for a ‘new start’ with Erik ten Hag after an underwhelming debut campaign at Old Trafford as Manchester United prepare for their pre-season tour of Australia and southeast Asia

  • French international Raphael Varane hopes for a fresh start under Erik ten Hag
  • The new Dutch boss will first lead Manchester United in a pre-season tour in July
  • The Red Devils head to Thailand to face Liverpool before jetting off to Australia
  • Varane endured an injury-ridden debut campaign as Man United finished sixth
  • The ex-Real Madrid defender left the Spanish capital for £42 million last summer 

Manchester United defender Raphael Varane is bidding for a fresh start under Erik ten Hag after an underwhelming debut campaign at Old Trafford.

The 29-year-old joined the Red Devils from Real Madrid for £42 million last summer but only managed to feature in 22 out of 38 Premier League matches during his first season.

After yet another year without silverware and a disappointing sixth place finish in the top flight, Varane is hoping that the new Ten Hag era will bring a fresh opportunity for success.

Raphael Varane arrived at Manchester United from Real Madrid for £42 million last summer

The defender went on to make just 20 Premier League starts as the Red Devils finished sixth

‘It’s a new season, it’s a new start, so everyone is excited to know about the new manager,’ he told the club website. 

‘Obviously, we want to do well and win every game so, for this, we’ll have to prepare for the new season, and I think it’s important for us to train hard and be ready.

‘We want to be ready for the new season. We need to work very hard and there will be a lot of training sessions, and a lot of games, so I think it will be interesting and a great moment to work very hard and to prepare for the season.’ 

Erik ten Hag will lead his new squad on their pre-season tour of Australia and southeast Asia

Manchester United set off on a pre-season tour to Australia and southeast Asia in July following their return to training on June 27. 

Ten Hag will first lead his new troops in friendly against rivals Liverpool in Bangkok before travelling to Melbourne to face Crystal Palace, and later Perth to play Aston Villa.

With hamstring tears, groin strains and muscular injuries all plaguing Varane last campaign, the pre-season tour offers a perfect opportunity for the World Cup winner to get back to full fitness.

The pre-season tour offers the French international a great opportunity to work on his fitness 

Despite jetting off on a lavish tour, the centre-back has insisted that the squad is fully focused on preparations ahead of the new season.

‘I think it’s a different atmosphere, it’s pre-season so we have to get fit, we have to prepare,’ he said.

‘I think it’s always exciting to play in front of our fans around the world, it’s a good experience for us, and it’s a good moment to prepare for the season.’




Share this article


Source: Read Full Article