Varane out until World Cup, Ronaldo back in United squad
FRANCE defender Raphael Varane will not feature for Manchester United until after the World Cup, manager Erik ten Hag said yesterday.
Centre back Varane, 29, went over his ankle midway through the second half in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea and looked distraught as he made his way into the tunnel at Stamford Bridge.
Ten Hag confirmed that Varane, who won the World Cup in 2018, will miss United’s six remaining games before the mid-season break but did not rule him out of the 20 November-December 18 tournament in Qatar.
“Rapha Varane isn’t in the squad,” Ten Hag told reporters before Sheriff visit Old Trafford yesterday. “He will be out, certainly until the World Cup so he will not play in this block (of games) for Man United.
“I think so (he will be fit for the World Cup), but the prognosis is we have to wait. We have to see how it develops, how the rehab will develop.”
However, Cristiano Ronaldo was this week back in the set-up. The Portuguese was training away from the team towards the end of last week and left out of the squad for Saturday’s trip to Chelsea after being dropped for refusing to go on as a substitute against Tottenham Hotspur in their previous match.
The 37-year-old rejoined the group on Tuesday, providing a welcome boost for United in attack with Anthony Martial still sidelined after missing their last four games due to a back problem.
“It was not difficult (the decision to allow him back). We said everything and we answered all the questions last week. So he was out for one game and now he is back in the squad as usual,” Ten Hag said.
Many football pundits and United legends have called out Ronaldo for his behaviour. Some have been advocating for his release for the sake of the players’ unity. |*Reuters