Man UTD
The buzz from United’s 5-1 win over Leeds on Saturday continued at Carrington today (Monday 16 August), as new signing Raphael Varane took part in his very first training session with the squad.
The defender’s move from Real Madrid was finally completed just prior to our Premier League opener, with the Frenchman memorably striding out onto the Old Trafford pitch before kick-off to the adoration of a capacity crowd. The Les Bleus star had to wait for a visa and endure a period of self-isolation before the transfer could be signed off, but with all the Is and Ts finally dotted and crossed – as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer put it – Varane’s integration is now gathering pace.
Many of the first-team were granted a day off on Sunday, following the match, so Monday’s training session represents the first real stage of our preparations for Sunday’s away game at Southampton.
Varane walked out with the group ahead of the session, having already been introduced to most of his new team-mates and coaches at Old Trafford two days ago.
Also involved were Amad and Eric Bailly, who had to quarantine after returning from the Tokyo Olympics, where they helped Ivory Coast to the last eight.
You can see a variety of images from the session in our gallery above, which shows Raphael alongside his new colleagues for the first time.
It remains to be seen when our no.19’s first come…
