He’s probably sitting there like a rabbit in the headlights – Rio Ferdinand on Raphael Varane

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand reckons Raphael Varane would have seen a big shift in the team’s dressing room when he made the move from Real Madrid to Red Devils. Varane joined Manchester United on a transfer worth around £41 million before the previous season.

However, the French player could not get a lot of game time for Manchester United as he struggled with injuries. Varane played a total of 29 matches across all competitions for Manchester United.

Ferdinand believes Varane would have observed a big change in the team’s culture and mentality as Los Blancos were winning consistently. On the other hand, Manchester United had a horrible season as they finished the 2021-22 season with their worst ever points tally.

Ferdinand said on his “FIVE” podcast on YouTube (as quoted by Stretty News): “He went from one team – the honours there tell you it was a functioning team at the top level, all players playing to their maximum consistently – and went into an absolute reverse situation where the team has zero functionality, no confidence, no guidance and no structure of where they’re going.”

“He went into an alien scenario where he’s going ‘I have not seen this since youth team football’. To go from that world-class operating and culture and standard on a daily basis to what is at Manchester United is a huge, huge shift.”

In fact, Ferdinand believes Varane will himself admit that he could not live up to the lofty standards he sets for himself after a poor season for Red Devils.

“He’s probably sitting there like a rabbit in the headlights thinking ‘wow, what is this?’ He hasn’t been the player we expected… he would tell you that, he couldn’t tell you anything else. He’ll be saying ‘I’ve got to up the levels next year. I need help’.”

Meanwhile, Raphael Varane played for Real Madrid for a decade as he formed a potent defensive unit along with Sergio Ramos and Marcelo. During his 10-year stint with Los Blancos, he won a total of 18 titles, which include four UEFA Champions League crowns and three LA Liga titles.