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United slumped to their 10th defeat of the season on Saturday night in a 1-0 loss to Newcastle United – a game the hosts dominated from the opening whistle at St James’ Park.
Erik ten Hag selected Luke Shaw to start alongside Harry Maguire at the heart of defence, picking the left-back ahead of Victor Lindelof and Varane who were among the subs. The former Real Madrid star has now started just one of United’s last 11 matches with major doubts emerging over his future at Old Trafford.
Varane formed a formidable partnership alongside Lisandro Martinez last season but is now firmly down the manager’s pecking order.
United are continuing to leak goals with the former France international out of the side with Burley believing the defender should be seriously considering his future.
Burley told ESPN: ‘[Diogo] Dalot is having a hard time on the left, he [ten Hag] wants Luke Shaw to play left hand side centre half because he wants him to pass the ball out with his left foot. But you have to have a semblance of control in the game to do that. You have to be able to defend.
‘If I was Raphael Varane I would call it quits. Hang my boots up because if I can’t get into the united side I might as well retire.’
Recent reports have suggested Varane’s relationship with ten Hag has ‘broken down’ with 35-year-old Jonny Evans also preferred to him in the starting XI prior to his injury.
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.’
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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