Raphael Varane

7even said:
Nice to read your thoughts.

I agree that you and I don't have a clue what SAF is thinking. But I also think that both of us has faith in his decisions. And for that reason I think that it was no coincidence that we made a bid for Varane. And as far as I know our interest in Jones was long term. Our initial thought was to buy him next season but when L'Pool was entering Blackpool we moved quickly to secure his signature. So by all logical reasons our interest in Varane was serious and did not depending on if we bought Jones or not.

I have no idea if Varane is ready to play in our first team. Both from a historical perspective United have no problems to slot in young players if they are good enough.

According to several trusty sources a lot of clubs were interested in Varana. His club stated that Real and us made a bid of approx €10m. It's also reported that PSG was ready to make a similar bid and that Wenger was lurking around.

That tells me something. Not that this guy is world class but that he clearly has talent enough to attract interest from some of the big guns. That's not bad for a 18 year old young man.

Maybe he will end up playing for Real Madrid. I don't think it will be wise but I understand that it's difficult for a French player to resist such an offer.

And to end my long rant I'm a little bit disappointed that we didn't get him. Looks like a real talent to me but who am I to know such things.
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I am not doubting his talent, but I had/have huge reservations that he is for us. Other than our actual need for another CB, I still believe that as a nation we produce some of the best centre backs in the world. As a rule, they tend to be hard working, no nonsense grafters.

Years of living in France taught me many things, but I have to be careful not to suggest that they are whinging, temperamental, egotistical types! :rolleyes:

It would be wrong of me to suggest it is in their culture to moan and that it is perceived as a sign of strength to moan like arseholes, the louder the better.

Eric was different, but there again, check out his ego and the circumstances behind his premature retirement.

In recent times Evra has found himself to be a big player in the Press, yet, in my opinion, he has not blown me away with his on pitch performance.

If he had spent time in out reserves then I would suggest it would not be long before he became unsettled.

All of this is just a personal opinion. I am overjoyed we signed Jones and I think that Young will flourish at Old Trafford, providing he stays away from the webcam and the wrath of SAF. :smirk:
 
Fergie's Man said:
I am not doubting his talent, but I had/have huge reservations that he is for us. Other than our actual need for another CB, I still believe that as a nation we produce some of the best centre backs in the world. As a rule, they tend to be hard working, no nonsense grafters.

Years of living in France taught me many things, but I have to be careful not to suggest that they are whinging, temperamental, egotistical types! :rolleyes:

It would be wrong of me to suggest it is in their culture to moan and that it is perceived as a sign of strength to moan like arseholes, the louder the better.

Eric was different, but there again, check out his ego and the circumstances behind his premature retirement.

In recent times Evra has found himself to be a big player in the Press, yet, in my opinion, he has not blown me away with his on pitch performance.

If he had spent time in out reserves then I would suggest it would not be long before he became unsettled.

All of this is just a personal opinion. I am overjoyed we signed Jones and I think that Young will flourish at Old Trafford, providing he stays away from the webcam and the wrath of SAF. :smirk:
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You do remember that England conceded a goal against Germany by shot from the goalkeeper barely over a year ago. England in my opinion does not produce the best player in any position at the moment. Players like Pique, Hummels, etc. are grossly underrated because of their nationality.
 
Baby Faced Assassin said:
You do remember that England conceded a goal against Germany by shot from the goalkeeper barely over a year ago. England in my opinion does not produce the best player in any position at the moment. Players like Pique, Hummels, etc. are grossly underrated because of their nationality.
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Dear me, I thought I was controversial. :smirk:

I stand by my comments that, "We produce some of the best centre backs in the world".
 
Statement on Lens website "There is nothing officially done with Real Madrid, but hopefully it will be finalised today. Some think Raphael (Varane) will not play there. I can tell you that he will not go there to paint the locker room." (via twitter)
 
Baby Faced Assassin said:
You do remember that England conceded a goal against Germany by shot from the goalkeeper barely over a year ago. England in my opinion does not produce the best player in any position at the moment. Players like Pique, Hummels, etc. are grossly underrated because of their nationality.
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That was down to the manager picking two players slower than me, would never have happened with Rio Ferdinand (or hell, any one of the English defenders with a bit of pace) there.
 
jeston said:
Statement on Lens website "There is nothing officially done with Real Madrid, but hopefully it will be finalised today. Some think Raphael (Varane) will not play there. I can tell you that he will not go there to paint the locker room." (via twitter)
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Here's the full statement, courtesy of Google Translate.

Attend the training on Wednesday morning, the president Gervais Martel discussed the future of the young Raphael Lensois Varane to Real Madrid ...

Gervais Martel - Chairman of the Racing Club de Lens: "It's not officially done with Real Madrid but it is on track and hopefully it will happen that day. Madrid leaders were very correct with us, they have been with the player. There is nothing that goes wrong! Some believe that Raphael will not play there. I can tell you it does not go to Real to repaint the changing rooms! Raphael is an intelligent, everybody knows it. I want to emphasize the speaker was exceptional Zinedine Zidane in this case. "
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Red Hand Devil said:
Who?

keith-gillespie.jpg


...or

1279535412-Paddy_McCourt.jpg


...or

WHITESIDE_N_19820704_GH_R.jpg
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YouTube - ‪George Best Tribute‬‏
 
Ramshock said:
Another supposed target prefers the sun! I dont know the reasoning behind wanting him but it still annoys me to see us lose another target to spain
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:-)

With the weather this week, who would blame him?


I don't think it is all about the weather, I reckon a great deal many of the continental players don't fancy the game in the EPL.
 
Not really sure why anyone was bothered about Varane after we'd signed Phil Jones. He'd have been a luxury if anything, I'm very happy with the young defenders we've got.
 
I feel sad we missed out on this young lad. Vidic, Smalling, Jones, Evans and Varane might have been the options in two years.
 
RDCR07 said:
I feel sad we missed out on this young lad. Vidic, Smalling, Jones, Evans and Varane might have been the options in two years.
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Have you seen him play often, or at least enough that not signing him can have an emotional effect on you?

I honestly had never even heard of him until we were linked with him, so I'm not too bothered that we havent signed him. Having seen the recent England U21 games I'm very happy with our young central defence options, Smallign and Jones look a potentially great partnership, and with Evans in the mix as well we're stocked deep for the future already.
 
EvilChuck said:
Have you seen him play often, or at least enough that not signing him can have an emotional effect on you?

I honestly had never even heard of him until we were linked with him, so I'm not too bothered that we havent signed him. Having seen the recent England U21 games I'm very happy with our young central defence options, Smallign and Jones look a potentially great partnership, and with Evans in the mix as well we're stocked deep for the future already.
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Yeah once we were linked with him, I had a couple of chances to watch him play. He is pretty good for his age.
 
RDCR07 said:
Loan in one option and Varane could also play in central midfield.
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Honestly, i very much doubt it if regarding the Man Utd expected individual level, unless everyone on here is ready to have a young guy in the middle more than often not at ease at all in this position. He has done a few good games there but really not that much, but he has been more than once almost crap in the midfield. I might be wrong but at the time being he does not have the attributes required for a Man Utd midfield if we wanna improve our squad. It's all about potential at best, and the important games we have lost this season and before were all about midfield battles lost again and again, so i'm not totally buying the idea that young doubtful midfield potential could be a solution to our problems.

Central defense is another debate, of course.
 
GledTheRed said:
Should have spoken to Garay before he signed.
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Hardly.. Ask anyone who is not a footballer what they would think about Real Madrid as a circu..oh sorry.. I mean club.. How many footballing careers have they almost completely ruined?

He should have gone to PSG.. I won't be surprised if he is sold back to a lower level French club in 2-3 seasons time..
 
Chirag said:
Hardly.. Ask anyone who is not a footballer what they would think about if Real Madrid are as a circu..oh sorry.. I mean club.. How many footballing careers have they almost completely ruined?

He should have gone to PSG.. I won't be surprised if he is sold back to a lower level French club in 2-3 seasons time..
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Exactlty, Garay has hardly kicked a ball since he signed.

Canales is the latest in a long line getting totally wasted.
 
Doesn't look near as cool without the dreadlocks. Wouldn't have wanted him anyway with that shit haircut.
 
Its just means we'll probably get him cheaper in a couple of years.
 
For a kid who was concerned about getting opportunities, he hasn't half picked the wrong team!
 
Its not like Madrid's CBs are the best. If he plays well enough to justify Manchester United and Real Madrid fighting over him then he could very much become a starting CB in the next season or so
 
I have made my feelings heard but would like to repeat them again.. Varane would have been better off signing with PSG.. The fact that I am saying this surely rules out the chance of me just being bitter because he/his club turned down our offer..
 
Chirag said:
I have made my feelings heard but would like to repeat them again.. Varane would have been better off signing with PSG.. The fact that I am saying this surely rules out the chance of me just being bitter because he/his club turned down our offer..
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In that regard, Jones might have been better of signing for Arsenal or Spurs perhaps. Not that United don't have a good track record for allowing youngsters to get into the first team but, with our current set of CBs, he's unlikely to play a lot of games. Perhaps the same was said about Smalling last season but, he did get a bit lucky with Rio's problems.

For his next few years development he might have been better off at another club but, when United come calling, just like when Madrid come calling, for some it's too hard to say no.
 
Shimo said:
In that regard, Jones might have been better of signing for Arsenal or Spurs perhaps. Not that United don't have a good track record for allowing youngsters to get into the first team but, with our current set of CBs, he's unlikely to play a lot of games. Perhaps the same was said about Smalling last season but, he did get a bit lucky with Rio's problems.

For his next few years development he might have been better off at another club but, when United come calling, just like when Madrid come calling, for some it's too hard to say no.
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I agree with what your saying.. But one shouldn't go around announcing that he needs and wants to play 1st team football and then turn your back and sign for the club where your going to get the least of it..
 
Shimo said:
In that regard, Jones might have been better of signing for Arsenal or Spurs perhaps. Not that United don't have a good track record for allowing youngsters to get into the first team but, with our current set of CBs, he's unlikely to play a lot of games. Perhaps the same was said about Smalling last season but, he did get a bit lucky with Rio's problems.

For his next few years development he might have been better off at another club but, when United come calling, just like when Madrid come calling, for some it's too hard to say no.
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Rio's problems were hardly unexpected, it's perfectly reasonable to believe that Smalling "counted" on them, in the best possible sense.
 
Siorac said:
Rio's problems were hardly unexpected, it's perfectly reasonable to believe that Smalling "counted" on them, in the best possible sense.
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Really? With Brown, O'Shea, Evans already here - you think he counted on just slotting in for Rio almost seamlessly in the event Rio did go out injured for a while? Even with Smalling saying quite a few times he never expected to play as much?

I don't think anyone anticipated Smalling playing as much as he did last season, including Smalling.

At Real Varane probably has less direct competition as Smalling did when he came here or Jones now to get a chance at first team action. It will be up to him to show he is ready for it.
 
Shimo said:
Really? With Brown, O'Shea, Evans already here - you think he counted on just slotting in for Rio almost seamlessly in the event Rio did go out injured for a while? Even with Smalling saying quite a few times he never expected to play as much?

I don't think anyone anticipated Smalling playing as much as he did last season, including Smalling.

At Real Varane probably has less direct competition as Smalling did when he came here or Jones now to get a chance at first team action. It will be up to him to show he is ready for it.
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I think most people expected Smalling to be ahead of Brown and O'Shea in the pecking order at CB - I certainly did, neither is especially convincing there - and as I said, Ferdinand's injuries weren't unexpected. Only Evans' poor form was unexpected, that certainly helped Smalling's chances.

Varane will have Pepe, Albiol, Garay, Carvalho ahead of him. That's a significantly more daunting task than what Smalling faced last year, especially as it's Real Madrid we're talking about. He wouldn't be in a better situation at us though, I admit that. He should have gone to PSG.
 
Chirag said:
I agree with what your saying.. But one shouldn't go around announcing that he needs and wants to play 1st team football and then turn your back and sign for the club where your going to get the least of it..
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You really dont know that though. Carvalho really wasnt all that last season and he's on a downward slide. Pepe is the only CB they have that will be a real fixture for many years to come and he's a bit mad and will miss games too.

If Varane is really as good as the options of United and Madrid suggest, then even at his tender and inexperienced years he might be able to become first choice in his first season or two. Pique managed it at Barcelona
 
He's probably going to be a good signing for them. I'm not too disappointed seeing as we already have 5 players for CB positions (6 including Brown), including three young ones, so I didn't really see room in the team for him - unless at DM.
 
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