A forgotten Manchester United signing, who arrived under David Moyes, could line up against England for Uruguay on Friday night
Guillermo Varela
The man who became David Moyes' first Manchester United signing has had a topsy-turvy career(Image: 2013 Manchester United FC)
View 3 Images
Plenty of Manchester United fans can name the final signing of the Sir Alex Ferguson era - Wilfried Zaha, for those who need a reminder - but far fewer will recall who ushered in the post-Ferguson chapter.
That honour goes to Guillermo Varela, a largely forgotten arrival who could line up against England this Friday. Signed from Penarol in 2013, the Uruguayan full back barely made a ripple at Old Trafford. Loan spells dominated his time at United and he managed just four Premier League appearances before eventually returning to his former club.
In many ways, Varela was seen as Ferguson's 'parting gift.' The legendary Scot personally pushed through the deal after watching him on trial. But Varela struggled to make the same impression with Ferguson's predecessors, with David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho all overlooking him.
Things took a sharper downturn during a 2017 loan spell at Eintracht Frankfurt. Varela was in contention to play the DFB-Pokal Final against Borussia Dortmund but missed out amid controversy - widely reported as an arm infection caused by a fresh tattoo, a claim the player has denied.
The situation traced back to the eve of the 2016 FA Cup Final, when Varela and several United team-mates got tattoos before going on to beat Crystal Palace 2-1 at Wembley. Seeing it as a good omen, he repeated the ritual ahead of Frankfurt's cup final - with very different consequences.
His alleged arm infection infuriated Frankfurt's hierarchy. The club suspended him and scrapped any plans to extend his loan, sending him back to Manchester with his prospects diminished.
Guillermo Varela
Varela was suspended by Frankfurt after he got a tattoo without the club's permission(Image: 2016 Getty Images)
View 3 Images
Frankfurt's sporting director said at the time: "The club cannot tolerate that a player would defy instructions. He hurt the team. There was redness around where he had the tattoo, and blisters formed meaning he was unable to train. We'd been thinking about a loan extension. But that won't happen. He'll be suspended with immediate effect."
A few years later, Varela attempted to clarify the situation. "I got a tattoo at the top of my back on my neck," he said. "It was during my injury, while I was not playing, about three months before the final in May.
“[Manager] Niko Kovac said to me, 'I don't want you to get any more tattoos.' I said, 'Why? I'm injured'. He said, 'Yes, I know but you have to respect the players and the staff.'
Guillermo Varela
Varela made each of his 11 appearances for United under Louis van Gaal(Image: OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
View 3 Images
"I said, 'Okay, I understand but I am injured.' Then when I started to play again I got this one done on my arm. He said to me, 'No, no, no. You stop here because we have the final in one week and I told you before you have to finish with your tattoos so now you are out.' I didn't get infected, that's not true. It was just because I got it."
After leaving United in 2017, Varela rebuilt his career across Europe and beyond, turning out for Copenhagen and Dynamo Moscow before joining Brazilian club Flamengo in 2023. Away from England, he has found stability - and international recognition, earning 26 caps for Uruguay national team.
Now, under Marcelo Bielsa, he could feature against Thomas Tuchel's England at Wembley this Friday, in what would be a fittingly unexpected return to the spotlight.