‘Some truths’ – Ex-Man United star reveals reason Erik ten Hag exiled him for two months
Raphael Varane lifted the lid on how a ‘robust discussion’ with Erik ten Hag sparked his two-month exile at Manchester United. Varane joined United in 2021 but endured a turbulent debut campaign for the club having to play under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Michael Carrick and Ralf Rangnick. Varane spent three seasons at United and played under four different managersGetty Ten Hag was named as the Red Devils’ next permanent manager in April 2022 and would begin his duties that summer after Rangnick’s interim stint had finished. Under Ten Hag, Varane was one of the first names on the team sheet as he made 34 appearances across all competitions, missing 14 through various injuries. Varane then started four of the Red Devils’ first seven league games in the 2023/24 campaign, hinting he’d once again have a key role to play. But from October through to December 9, the four-time Champions League winner failed to register a single league start despite being fully fit. Instead, he logged a total of 18 minutes via three substitute appearances against Sheffield United, Luton Town and Fulham. One of the matches Varane was an unused substitute was a 3-0 loss to United’s cross-town rivals Manchester City on October 29. Speaking after the match, Ten Hag explained his decision to keep Varane on the bench was down to ‘tactical reasons’. But in an interview with The Athletic, Varane has explained that was not the case. “We had a robust discussion,” Varane said. “We told each other some truths, but then I didn’t play for almost two months. Ten Hag’s tenure at United got progressively worseGetty “I said I didn’t agree with certain ways of doing things regarding the relationship between him and the team. “It wasn’t something that I thought was good for the team because some of the players weren’t at all satisfied. It was not good in terms of the relationship with the coach. “He said, ‘OK, I hear what you said’ and after that I didn’t play.” Varane eventually made his return to United’s starting lineup on December 17 against Liverpool, helping the Red Devils keep a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw. He missed a 2-0 loss to West Ham in the following match due to illness, but started 11 of the next 12 league fixtures. Unfortunately a muscle injury sidelined Varane for the next eight fixtures in all competitions. Ten Hag and Varane did not see eye-to-eye on a number of mattersGetty But he did return in time for United’s FA Cup final against City as he started for the Red Devils in a surprise 2-1 victory. It proved to be Varane’s final act in a United shirt as he reached a mutual agreement with the club to part ways in the off-season. As for Ten Hag, he remained in his post until last October after the Red Devils finally swung the axe. In their fiscal report for Q2, it has been revealed that giving Ten Hag a new contract and sacking him shortly afterwards ended up costing the club £14.5m. It was a decision Varane expected for some time, particularly because of the ‘complicated’ relationship between the Dutchman and his players. “It’s hard to find the right words,” Varane said. “It was very tense at times. “Sometimes he made an effort to listen to the players’ feedback. Sometimes he made decisions without listening to the players’ feelings. So there were ups and downs. “It was complicated at times.” Despite Ten Hag’s departure, United’s fortunes haven’t exactly improved under his replacement Ruben Amorim as the club sits 15th in the Premier League. Amorim will hope to kick-start a turnaround in form when his side travels to Everton on Saturday.
Raphael Varane lifted the lid on how a ‘robust discussion’ with Erik ten Hag sparked his two-month exile at Manchester United.
Varane joined United in 2021 but endured a turbulent debut campaign for the club having to play under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Michael Carrick and Ralf Rangnick.
Ten Hag was named as the Red Devils’ next permanent manager in April 2022 and would begin his duties that summer after Rangnick’s interim stint had finished.
Under Ten Hag, Varane was one of the first names on the team sheet as he made 34 appearances across all competitions, missing 14 through various injuries.
Varane then started four of the Red Devils’ first seven league games in the 2023/24 campaign, hinting he’d once again have a key role to play.
But from October through to December 9, the four-time Champions League winner failed to register a single league start despite being fully fit.
Instead, he logged a total of 18 minutes via three substitute appearances against Sheffield United, Luton Town and Fulham.
One of the matches Varane was an unused substitute was a 3-0 loss to United’s cross-town rivals Manchester City on October 29.
Speaking after the match, Ten Hag explained his decision to keep Varane on the bench was down to ‘tactical reasons’.
But in an interview with The Athletic, Varane has explained that was not the case.
“We had a robust discussion,” Varane said.
“We told each other some truths, but then I didn’t play for almost two months.
“I said I didn’t agree with certain ways of doing things regarding the relationship between him and the team.
“It wasn’t something that I thought was good for the team because some of the players weren’t at all satisfied. It was not good in terms of the relationship with the coach.
“He said, ‘OK, I hear what you said’ and after that I didn’t play.”
Varane eventually made his return to United’s starting lineup on December 17 against Liverpool, helping the Red Devils keep a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw.
He missed a 2-0 loss to West Ham in the following match due to illness, but started 11 of the next 12 league fixtures.
Unfortunately a muscle injury sidelined Varane for the next eight fixtures in all competitions.
But he did return in time for United’s FA Cup final against City as he started for the Red Devils in a surprise 2-1 victory.
It proved to be Varane’s final act in a United shirt as he reached a mutual agreement with the club to part ways in the off-season.
As for Ten Hag, he remained in his post until last October after the Red Devils finally swung the axe.
In their fiscal report for Q2, it has been revealed that giving Ten Hag a new contract and sacking him shortly afterwards ended up costing the club £14.5m.
It was a decision Varane expected for some time, particularly because of the ‘complicated’ relationship between the Dutchman and his players.
“It’s hard to find the right words,” Varane said.
“It was very tense at times.
“Sometimes he made an effort to listen to the players’ feedback. Sometimes he made decisions without listening to the players’ feelings. So there were ups and downs.
“It was complicated at times.”
Despite Ten Hag’s departure, United’s fortunes haven’t exactly improved under his replacement Ruben Amorim as the club sits 15th in the Premier League.
Amorim will hope to kick-start a turnaround in form when his side travels to Everton on Saturday.
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