Manchester United have confirmed that Raphael Varane will not be fit enough to travel to Emirates Stadium for Sunday’s game against Arsenal.
The center back was subbed off by Erik Ten Hag in United’s 3-2 comeback victory at home to Nottingham Forest with a knock. The club has now confirmed that the Frenchman will be out longer than expected.
A Manchester United statement read “Raphael Varane will be missing from the team when Manchester United face Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday due to injury.
“The France international came off at half-time in our 3-2 win against Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford on Saturday due to the complaint, which is expected to keep him out for a few weeks.
“Erik ten Hag may provide an update on team news during the pre-match press conference on Friday.”
Throughout his two years at Old Trafford, Varane has consistently struggled with injuries. Those injuries have seen the defender miss around one game for every two that he plays since his £42million move for Real Madrid.
He has missed 32 games for the club so far, according to Transfermarkt, and he has suffered from problems as varied as hamstring, groin, knee and ankle. There are unspecified muscle injuries in there as well, something that first began cropping up regularly in 2016/17 when he was still at Real Madrid.
With Varane injured, Ten Hag will most probably pair Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof for the game at Emirates Stadium. Harry Maguire is the other center back United have in case they need a different dimension.
