Guillermo Varela


Guillermo Varela Olivera is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Copenhagen. He began his career with Peñarol, in his home town of Montevideo, before joining Manchester United in 2013. He spent time on loan to Spanish club Real Madrid's reserve team, Real Madrid Castilla, and at German club Eintracht Frankfurt, before rejoining Peñarol in 2017.

Club career

Peñarol

Born in Montevideo, Varela started his career with his hometown club Peñarol and made his senior debut on 5 June 2011, in a 1–0 home defeat against Racing Club de Montevideo, on the last matchday of Uruguayan Primera División.

Manchester United

In May 2013, Varela went on a two-week trial with Manchester United after an impressive performance at the 2013 South American Youth Championship.
On 7 June 2013, Manchester United announced they had reached an agreement to sign Varela from Peñarol for an undisclosed fee, rumoured to be €2.8 million. On 11 June 2013, he signed a five-year contract with United. Hence, he became the first player to join Manchester United under new manager David Moyes.

Loan to Real Madrid Castilla

In September 2014, Varela joined Real Madrid reserve side Real Madrid Castilla for season-long loan. He was, however, included in the 2014–15 UEFA Champions League squad for the first-team and he was given the squad number 28. He made 33 appearances and scored once, when he was set up by Martin Ødegaard in a 4–0 win over Barakaldo on 21 February 2015, at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano in the season's Segunda División B.

Return to Manchester United

After returning to Manchester United, Varela was included in Manchester United's squad for the group stage of the 2015–16 UEFA Champions League. He made his debut on 5 December 2015, as a half-time substitute for Paddy McNair in a goalless Premier League draw against West Ham United at Old Trafford. Three days later, Varela made his first start and Champions League debut in the 2015–16 UEFA Champions League, playing the full 90 minutes in a 3–2 defeat to Wolfsburg. On 19 April 2016, Varela scored an injury-time winner to win Manchester United Under-21s the 2015–16 U21 Premier League title.

Loan to Eintracht Frankfurt

After the arrival of José Mourinho as Manchester United manager in 2016, Varela came on as a substitute in Mourinho's first match in charge of the team. However, he was not included in Mourinho's squad for the club's summer tour of China, and on 23 July 2016, Varela joined German club Eintracht Frankfurt on a season-long loan deal.
Frankfurt coach Niko Kovač revealed at the end of the season that Varela was expected to play in the 2017 DFB-Pokal Final and be given an extension, but these plans were abandoned after Varela defied the instructions of the club's training staff and got a tattoo, which later became inflamed. Because of this, and other disciplinary issues, Varela was suspended by the club, who said that they would not be attempting to extend his loan deal.

Return to Peñarol

On 12 August 2017, Varela returned to Peñarol on a permanent deal. He made his second debut for the club on 20 August 2017, in 4–0 win against El Tanque Sisley.

FC Copenhagen

On 20 December 2018, Varela joined Danish Superliga team FC Copenhagen on a deal until June 2023.

International career

Varela played for the Uruguay under-20 team at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup, where the team finished as runners-up to champions France.
On 5 March 2016, following his emergence into the Manchester United first-team, Varela received his first call-up to the Uruguay senior squad, for the World Cup qualifiers against Brazil and Peru later that same month.
In June 2018, Varela was named in Uruguay's final 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Career statistics

Club

International

Honours

Peñarol
Copenhagen