Harry Maguire has spoken about a former teammate and how impactful their time together has been, as the centre-back has re-found form in a Manchester United shirt.
Manchester United has been the home of Harry Maguire for over six years with the 32-year-old signing from Leicester City in 2019 for £80 million, a record fee for a defender which still stands to this day.
However, it was not a smooth ride for the Englishman, as he hit a rough patch at United, with the potential for an exit in 2023.
The resurgence in form has to be applauded for the England international, as Maguire soon found himself one of United’s most impactful players, providing crucial goals and reliable defending.
The defender started in United’s most recent fixture, where he locked down Erling Haaland, helping United keep a clean sheet in the brilliant 2-0 win over rivals Manchester City.
Maguire has spoken out about one player in particular whose time together at United proved to be crucial in the player he has become today.
Maguire full of praise for Varane
Speaking to United’s media channels, Maguire showed no hesitation to praise former teammate of three years, Raphael Varane.
“Rapha was a winner, a born winner. And he was great for the club. He obviously came after having all those years at Real Madrid and had so much experience. So if you didn’t learn from him, you’re not going to learn from anybody!
“He was an excellent player, a great person as well. A great person to have in the dressing room; a proper leader, a proper winner. Not the loudest, but with his presence and his aura, he brought great leadership.
“It was a pleasure to play alongside him. When he was at Real Madrid, he was arguably one of the best defenders in the last 20 years.”
Varane came to the club as a certified winner and, no doubt, had a hand in crafting the great player that Maguire has proven to become.
Maguire’s improvement for United
Since Varane’s final season at the club, Maguire has stepped up to become a figure of leadership within the squad, and often being the arm that United falls back on during times of need.
Maguire iconically scored the winner in United’s 5-4 victory against Lyon in the Europa League finalising a comeback that will go down as one of the greats in United’s history.
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Whilst Varane’s time at United was short and sweet, the impact that he has had on the likes of Maguire has undoubtedly had positive effects as Maguire has reinstated himself as a fan favourite.
Varane can relax in his retirement, but fans will not forget the contributions he made to the club, securing a Carabao Cup and an FA Cup, upholding his mantle as a winner.
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