Varane has started just one of United’s last 11 matches (Picture: Getty)
Raphael Varane does not want to leave Manchester United in January and wants to fight for his place at Old Trafford.
The former France international has started just one of United’s last 11 games with Harry Maguire primarily taking his place in the starting XI.
Erik ten Hag has been reluctant to pair Maguire and Varane together at the heart of defence with the manager selecting Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof ahead of the latter. Luke Shaw was also preferred on Saturday, shifted inside from left-back to partner Maguire with Varane once again among the subs.
His lack of game time has raised questions over his future at the club with reports last month suggesting his relationship with the United boss is under strain.
Bayern Munich are monitoring his situation ahead of the January window while he has also been linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League.
But the Manchester Evening News report Varane has shown no desire to leave in the mid-season window and will only change that stance if United tell him he is no longer wanted.
Varane, who joined United from Real Madrid in 2021, formed a formidable partnership with Lisandro Martinez last season. Both men struggled for form and fitness at the start of the 2023-24 campaign however with the Argentina international not expected to return until after Christmas having undergone surgery on his foot for the second time this year.
Varane is not looking to leave in January (Picture: Getty)
Ten Hag has played down talk of a rift between him and Varane, with Maguire’s return to form impacting the Frenchman’s time on the pitch this season.
The United boss recently admitted a Maguire-Varane partnership is not ‘fluid’ when one of them has to occupy the left centre-half role where Martinez excelled last season.
‘Absolutely not,’ Ten Hag said last month when asked if there was a wider issue between him and Varane. ‘As I said, it is about tactical reasons why I chose these partnerships. I think Harry and Jonny did well.
‘What I said last year, Harry didn’t play a lot, so I was very happy with Rapha’s performances. I have always been happy with his performance. But in this moment, Harry is playing very well and there is internal competition.’
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He continued: ‘There are moments in certain games where they (Maguire and Varane) can play together and they have already proven they can do it.
‘But the build-up is not that fluid when one of them is playing from the left centre-back position.
‘Because I think Licha, obviously, Luke Shaw, obviously, Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof are right-footed, but they can play really comfortably with their left and make the right angles. Then you can construct a better formation where you can start to play.’
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