Wes Brown exclusive: ‘Would Raphael Varane have got into our Manchester United team? No, we had Rio and Vidic’

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Few defenders over the past 30 years can match ex-Manchester United star Wes Brown when it comes to honours. The Englishman claimed five Premier League titles, two Champions Leagues, two FA Cups and two League Cups across a glittering 13-year spell at Old Trafford, before leaving for Sunderland in 2011.

Yet there is one defender in the current United side that can-medal Brown. Raphael Varane’s own haul includes three La Ligas, four Champions Leagues and the World Cup. Yet there is a feeling among the Red Devils fanbase that the Frenchman has struggled to show his best form since joining from Real Madrid in 2021.

“He’s been a class act in the past,” Brown tells FourFourTwo on behalf of luckyblock.com. “He’s won many trophies for club and country. At Manchester United, people might have thought he’s have come in and been a little bit better, but I do think, when he has played this season he’s done OK.

Wes Brown, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic after the 2008 Champions League Final (Image credit: Getty Images)”When I played centre-back during my career, I always found it harder when it wasn’t a proper partnership. To be fair, injuries haven’t helped. But listen, he’s still there and he’s still got it. He’s not as good as he was in his Real Madrid days, or why would they have sold him? But he’s still a class act and he has a good partnership with Lisandro Martinez. But it’s just that that partnership hasn’t been given a real chance over the past couple of seasons.”

Brown played alongside some of the greatest defenders in United’s history, including Jaap Stam, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra and Gary Neville. Would Varane have nailed down a place in those sides?

“If you’re talking about my day, no,” Brown explains. “We had prime Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic – we wouldn’t have needed him. They were almost always fit and they had that natural understanding.

Brown played with several United legends (Image credit: Getty Images)”Gerard Pique was also there, as backup, as well as the likes of Johnny Evans, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling. There was a hierarchy and different partnerships within that group that complimented each other. United don’t seem to have enough of that at the moment.

“Partnerships are key in football. Not just in defence but all over the pitch. I just don’t think Varane’s quite had that.”

More Manchester United storiesReports have suggested Manchester United have opened talks with Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi as Erik ten Hag’s replacement, while summer transfer plans are also being made as they await the arrival of Dan Ashworth – with players said to be lined up regardless who is in the dugout next season.

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Ed is a staff writer at FourFourTwo, working across the magazine and website. A German speaker, he’s been working as a football reporter in Berlin since 2015, predominantly covering the Bundesliga and Germany’s national team. Favourite FFT features include an exclusive interview with Jude Bellingham following the youngster’s move to Borussia Dortmund in 2020, a history of the Berlin Derby since the fall of the Wall and a celebration of Kevin Keegan’s playing career.