United confirm Varane injury as he joins Maguire on sidelines

Jason Soutar
Manchester United defender Raphael Varane sits down injured for France

Manchester United defender Raphael Varane will be “out for a few weeks” after suffering an injury during the international break, his club have confirmed.

The 28-year-old picked up a groin issue during France’s Nations League final victory over Spain on Sunday evening.

“Raphael Varane sustained a groin muscle injury in the UEFA Nations League final and has commenced rehabilitation at the club,” said a United statement.

“He will be out for a few weeks.”


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Varane joined the Red Devils from Real Madrid in the summer transfer window for a fee believed to be around £34million.

He has quickly established himself in the heart of defence alongside club captain and England international Harry Maguire.

However, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will now be without his two first-choice central defenders as Varane joins Maguire – who has a calf issue – on the injury table.

His remaining options are Victor Lindelof and either Eric Bailly, whose one appearance this season came in the Carabao Cup defeat to West Ham last month, or Phil Jones, who has not played since January 2020 due to a knee injury but was in the squad for the Hammers game.

Solskjaer could also utilise midfielder Scott McTominay at centre-back, a role he has performed for Scotland, or opt to switch to a back three and move Luke Shaw into a more central position.

Elsewhere, Lorenzo Insigne may not get what he wants from a new Napoli contract and rumours of a dispute has reportedly ‘aroused the interest’ of United.

Insigne – who has spent his entire career with Napoli – is out of contract at the end of the season and he and the club are said to be some distance apart when it comes to the new one.

Napoli are reportedly ready to offer him wages of €4.6m per year, while the Italy international wants somewhere between €6m and €7m.

Previously linked to Tottenham, Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness) claim he is now on United’s radar.

The report adds that ‘Inter’s attention for the Napoli captain has never waned’, and they ‘would also be willing to pay him the €6m salary’.