Manchester United’s manager, Erik ten Hag, has refuted rumors of a rift with defender Raphaël Varane.
Varane, aged 30, has seen limited starts in the team’s recent matches and has been linked with a potential move away from Old Trafford in January. Ten Hag, known for previous disagreements with senior players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho, attributes Varane’s absence to intense competition within the squad.
Addressing the speculation, Ten Hag stated in a news conference, “Rapha Varane? I don’t know what you’re talking about. It’s rumors. He’s a very important player, but there’s internal competition, as there should be at a top club like ours.”
Looking ahead to their upcoming match against Everton, Ten Hag provided updates on the team’s fitness. Goalkeeper André Onana is expected to be fit after withdrawing from the Cameroon squad with a back injury. Luke Shaw is also available after a three-month absence due to a muscle problem. However, Jonny Evans remains sidelined, and Rasmus Højlund’s participation will be decided after a late fitness test, along with Mason Mount.
Regarding Marcus Rashford, UEFA confirmed he won’t face a two-match suspension for his red card in the recent game against FC Copenhagen. Rashford will miss the next match against Galatasaray but will be eligible for the crucial Champions League game against Bayern Munich. UEFA’s disciplinary board deemed the red card incident “rough play,” resulting in the mandatory one-match ban.
Despite Rashford’s recent struggles in front of goal, his availability for the Bayern Munich clash is seen as a positive for United’s chances of progressing in the Champions League.