If Raphael Varane had any doubts about the level of challenge the Premier League would provide, Manchester United ’s newest central defender was given more than a glimpse at Molineux last weekend.
United would ultimately win the game 1-0, thanks to a late Mason Greenwood striker, but Wolves more than held their own and regularly carved open the visitors.
On another day, Bruno Lage’s side would have scored multiple times, but a combination of Varane, David de Gea and Harry Maguire helped earn the Red Devils their first clean sheet of the season.
After remaining on the bench against Southampton, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer opted to start the Frenchman alongside Maguire in what fans hope can be the long term partnership at the back.
And Varane claimed that his decision to swap LaLiga for the Premier League was instantly vindicated thanks to a pulsating encounter in the Black Country.
“I was very, very happy to be here and to help the team get this victory,” he told the club’s official site. “The feeling is absolutely amazing.
“The Premier League is very intense. The game it’s very fast and you know when you play this game, you are very concentrated and it’s very intense. I came here for that feeling.
The atmosphere is fantastic, and the game is very fast. You have a lot of action during the game.
“You have to be focused and very concentrated because it never stops. It’s attack, attack, counter-attack and it’s very fast.”
On Maguire, Varane added: “Very good. He’s a good player. We had good communication, that’s very important, and the same spirit: to fight and to win the game.”
De Gea took most of the plaudits for his display, denying Wolves an opener with an amazing double save from Romain Saiss: “Amazing save,” Varane continued. “He’s a top goalkeeper and today he helped the team.”
The win over Wolves is likely to be the final time that United play without Cristiano Ronaldo, with his return expected to be officially confirmed before the 11pm deadline on Tuesday.
Varane has lined-up with Ronaldo exactly 200 times and he knows exactly what his arrival will add.
“I am very happy. He’s a legend and all players can learn when you play with him. It’s a great help for all players, for all young players, and of course he never stops scoring goals, so he will help the team.”
Manchester United face Newcastle on September 11, where the Portuguese legend is set to make his second Old Trafford debut.
