Raphael Varane has lifted the lid on talks he held with close friend Paul Pogba prior to his move to Manchester United in the summer transfer window.
United had tried to buy Varane from French side Lens 10 years ago before he joined Real Madrid but finally captured their long-term target after a stellar decade playing in La Liga.
The French defender joined United from Madrid on a four-year contract with the option of an additional year for a fee rising to £43million.
Varane rejected a new contract offer in the Spanish capital as he looked for a fresh challenge in his playing career and he sought guidance from Pogba about what to expect in English football.
"Paul spoke to me about the club, about the atmosphere, about the expectations," Varane told Sky Sports.
"Of course, he is a great player. But he also has very good, positive energy. He is a leader for the group. I've known him for a very long time so I'm happy to play with him."
When asked how he has found the transition to the Premier League the centre-back was quick to point out the clear differences he has already encountered.
He added: "It's a different kind of football. It's faster, you have more duels and the intensity is very high in every game. The rhythm on the pitch is different. You repeat a lot of runs and effort and you have to be ready because there is a lot of pressure."
