Raphaël Varane delivers important advice for INEOS about Manchester United’s transfer strategy

Raphaël Varane has provided some important advice for Manchester United co-owners INEOS ahead of the summer transfer window.

Manchester United signed Raphaël Varane from Real Madrid in the summer of 2021, and he spent three seasons at the club.

The French defender played his final game for United in the FA Cup final victory over Manchester City last season. However, many believe his best performances came during the 2022/23 campaign.

That season, Varane formed a solid defensive partnership with Lisandro Martínez, helping United secure a third-place finish in the Premier League and lift the Carabao Cup.

The World Cup winner departed the club for Como in the summer before retiring from the game after a serious knee injury. He remains at the Italian club as a board member.

INEOS transfer strategy at United is clear

Leny Yoro joined United in the summer as an option to replace Varane, with the 19-year-old being one of the most talented young defenders in Europe.

United’s approach in the transfer market has been clear since INEOS came in, with no signings made for players over the age of 26.

Five of the seven signings made in the last two transfer windows have been for players 23 or younger, while Matthijs de Ligt celebrated his 25th birthday the day before signing for the club.

Ahead of the summer window, that youth-focused approach is likely to continue, with reports linking United to players such as Tyler Dibling (19) and Geovany Quenda (17).

Varane delivers important United advice

Varane has been speaking on the difference between United and Real Madrid, with his words being potentially important advice for his former club in England.

The ex-defender explained that young players at Madrid are able to join a club with a “solid foundation” which helps them have the time to learn before becoming important players.

Instead, at Old Trafford, these young players are signed for nig-monye and immediately thrown into the firing line, something that Varane does not believe is the best move.

“At Madrid, you can see that for years there has been a framework,” he told The Athletic earlier this month.

“A player is added, some leave, but there is always a solid foundation. When you recruit young, talented players, they have to learn before they can play.

“It gives them time to develop. When I arrived, at the age of 18, I had no responsibilities in the dressing room. I was just there to learn.

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“At United, they can recruit a very expensive young player and immediately play him, with all the responsibilities in an extremely difficult league.

“He’s got a huge weight on his shoulders straight away.”

While United certainly need to try and secure some more exciting talent, we are already seeing how someone like Rasmus Højlund can be impacted by United not having that foundation in place which Varane mentions.

Experienced players are also needed and INEOS should not be soley focused on signing players who need development when the club isn’t in a place to provide the right environment for that progression.

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