“He changed…” Diogo Dalot offers Man United star the highest possible praise

Diogo Dalot has offered Raphaël Varane the highest possible praise, with the centre-back leaving Manchester United this summer after three seasons at the club.

On Tuesday morning, it was announced that Raphaël Varane will leave Manchester United once his contract expires at the end of June, three years after he signed for the Old Trafford club.

Varane joined United from Real Madrid in 2021 for a fee of around £27 million as part of Ole Gunnar Solskjær‘s side at the club, but the Norweigan was sacked not long later, with Erik ten Hag taking over the next summer.

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Varane then established a brilliant partnership with Lisandro Martínez, but injuries have plagued both players in the last 12 months, meaning they have been unable to continue their brilliant duo at the back this season.

Over the last decade, Varane has become one of the most successful defenders in the sport, winning five Champions League titles, multiple La Liga trophies, and a World Cup in 2018.

Speaking to club media, Diogo Dalot was asked for his reaction to the news, to which he offered the highest possible praise, claiming Varane had gone as far as changing what it meant to be a centre-back.

“I mean, first of all, it’s just the first words that comes to mind. It’s just thank you for what he did for this club. He will be always remembered as a legend of football, for what he has done for football, what he won.

“I think it’s amazing the type of things that he did for football, the quality that he had as a centre-back. I think he changed the whole concept of centre-back. He was skinny, fast, quality on the ball. I think he’s changed a little bit the concept of being a centre-back.

“I remember watching him and just being a joy watching him at Madrid. But then, when you have the opportunity to play with players like this, it’s always something that I, for me personally, I always try to take everything from them. And these couple of years have been amazing.

“Apart from being a great football player, he’s an amazing human being. And I just wish him all the best. I will definitely keep in contact with him because I made a very good relationship with him. So, I just wish him all the best and thank him for what he did for the club.”