Gary Neville shares furious group text with Man Utd legends over blockbuster Raphael Varane statement

Manchester United legend Gary Neville has backed Raphael Varane's 'calm, calculated and measured' attack on new Premier League rules.

The Red Devils centre-back got the footballing world talking over the weekend as he shared details of a behind-the-scenes discussion between players and the top flight over a new approach to added time.

Starting this year, Premier League games are set to follow a system similar to the one employed at last year's World Cup which is likely to see matches running to 100 minutes with extended extra time.

Last weekend, Arsenal midfielder Leandro Trossard scored a 101st-minute equaliser against Manchester City as the Gunners went on to win the Community Shield, which left City boss Pep Guardiola criticising the new extra-time approach.

On Monday morning, Varane took to Twitter and wrote: "We had a meeting last week with the FA. They recommended from the referees new decisions and rules.

"From the managers and players, we have shared our concerns for many years now that there are too many games, the schedule is overcrowded, and it’s at a dangerous level for players' physical and mental well-being.

"Despite our previous feedbacks, they have now recommended for next season: longer games, more intensity, and less emotions to be shown by players. We just want to be in good condition on the pitch to give 100% to our club and fans. Why are our opinions not being heard?

"As a player I feel very privileged to do the job I love every day but I feel these changes are damaging our game. We want to be at our maximum level, the best we can be and put on amazing performances for fans to celebrate every week.

"I believe it is important that we, players and managers, highlight these important issues as we want to protect the game we love and give the fans our best."

A long list of football stars past and present have supported the defender's call for change and now Manchester United legend Gary Neville has added his opinion on the matter. The former full-back shared that his thoughts were backed up in a group chat with fellow Red Devils stars who have become Salford City owners.

He told The Overlap Fan Debate: “I thought Raphael Varane’s tweet this morning was quite damning. It was a calm, calculated, measured analysis of the situation. I didn’t watch the Community Shield, but I watched Salford City on Saturday, and there were nine minutes of added time at the end of game which I couldn’t believe – I thought it should’ve been about four or five. It wasn’t just that – they played three added minutes on the nine and ended up playing 12. It’s not right – in our group chat [for Salford City owners], all of us said ‘this is not right’ – we were winning 2-0, so we weren’t panicking that we would lose the game.

“There will be massive problems – Pep Guardiola has reacted after the Shield, which you would expect [after losing], but Varane’s response was a very calm and measured put-down of this application of the rules. I think they’ll change it very quickly.”