Canal+ journalist Damien Dubras reports this afternoon that Raphaël Varane has sustained a thigh muscle injury – specifically, the biceps femoris – which is not as bad as initially feared. He would however, likely be out for the first match for the World Cup should he be called up in Didier Deshcamps’ France squad next month.
The 29-year-old defender picked up the injury while playing for Manchester United in yesterday’s draw against Chelsea, having left the pitch distraught, fuelling fears that Les Bleus’ vice-captain would be the latest major player to be sidelined for the tournament.
Varane’s thigh issue would add to the host of absences Deschamps will have to contend with, as N’Golo Kanté and Mike Maignan are also ruled out and Paul Pogba is increasingly in doubt of making it to Qatar. Should the former Real Madrid man eventually miss out on the squad, the likes of Dayot Upamecano or William Saliba would be in line to replace him.
