Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag denies claims that his relationship with Raphael Varane has broken down.
Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has firmly denied suggestions that his relationship with experienced centre-back Raphael Varane has broken down. The ex-France international has recently been overlooked for starts, with both Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof selected ahead of him, which has led to speculation surrounding his future.
The 30-year-old has a deal at Old Trafford until June 2025, but it is being widely reported that he will be on the move next year, with clubs from Saudi Arabia and Italy keeping a close eye on the situation.
Bayern Munich have also been linked with a January swoop for the former Real Madrid defender, but it is highly unlikely that he will be allowed to leave in the middle of the campaign.
A recent report claimed that Varane's relationship with Ten Hag has broken down, with the two individuals said to have clashed after the centre-back was left out of the first XI for the Manchester derby last month.
However, Ten Hag, speaking during his press conference on Friday afternoon, insisted that there is no rift with Varane, claiming that he is currently out of the team due to the "internal competition".
"I don't know what you're talking about. It's rumours. Very important player, but there's internal competition and there should be at a top club, as we are," he told reporters.
"And when you decide on two players who do brilliant - Raphael Varane and Harry Maguire - you also have to make a choice for that position."
Maguire was heavily linked with a switch away from Old Trafford over the summer, but he turned down the chance to make the move to West Ham United in order to fight for his spot at Man United, and the England international has managed to work his way back into the side.
Lisandro Martinez and Evans remain sidelined for Sunday's clash with Everton, but Varane is again expected to be on the bench, with Maguire likely to be joined in the middle by Lindelof.
In a separate interview with beIN Sports earlier this week, Ten Hag suggested that Varane and Maguire are unlikely to start together on a regular basis.
"They can play together in certain games, but I thought from the start when I came in here, I want a player on the left side of my defence, who is comfortable on the left side of their foot, because it gives you more and better angles and that is the reason I explained from the start," said the Dutchman.
"That's why I [brought in] Licha Martinez, to have that left-footed [centre-back]. But we have, in our squad, players who can [play] left as well, of course, Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw are capable to play in that position. Jonny Evans, as well, and that fits through our way of playing, and that fits to my philosophy of how I see the game."
Shaw will be back in the squad against Everton after more than three months out with a muscular injury, while Andre Onana is also available after suffering a fitness scare while representing Cameroon, but Rasmus Hojlund remains a doubt due to a muscular strain.
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