As rumored, Raphael Varane has announced the end of his association with Manchester United.
Specifically, the Man Utd homepage stated: “Raphael Varane will depart Manchester United in the summer, upon the expiration of his contract, after three seasons at Old Trafford. Everyone at the club thanks Varane and wishes him all the best for the future.
Varane has brought class and experience to the team throughout his 93 appearances to date. The French player also helped the club secure their first major trophy in six years, winning the Carabao Cup 2023 at Wembley.”
Meanwhile, Varane shared: “See you all at Old Trafford for the final home game of the season (Man Utd vs. Newcastle on the evening of May 15). It will be an emotional day for me.”
Varane moved to Manchester United from Real Madrid in the summer of 2021 for £34 million. At Old Trafford, the French defender received a weekly wage of up to £340,000. According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, the contract between both parties expires this summer, but Man Utd has decided not to offer Varane a new deal.
In reality, the new ownership wants to revolutionize the team by getting rid of aging players who don’t meet expectations, such as Varane, and Casemiro may be next. Unlike Varane, Casemiro still has a contract, so Man Utd will look to sell him outright.
Varane’s form this season has been inconsistent. There have been times when the French player has been benched in several matches. Varane’s biggest issue lies in the continuous interruptions to his playing time due to injuries. The 2018 World Cup champion no longer displays top-level abilities.
No one can deny Varane’s class. He was a pillar of Real Madrid during their glorious period of success. Besides winning the 2018 World Cup with the French national team, Varane amassed 18 titles with Los Blancos, including 3 La Liga championships and 4 Champions League triumphs.
In the summer of 2021, Manchester United only paid €40 million to bring in Varane at what was considered his prime age. At 28, he was believed to have the ability to achieve many more prestigious titles. However, that €40 million price tag was not cheap, primarily due to Varane’s limited contributions.
Indeed, Varane’s time at Manchester United has been frequently disrupted by various injuries. In his first season at Old Trafford alone, the French defender spent 95 days sidelined due to 5 different injuries.
Last season, Varane’s condition was no different. He suffered from 3 different injuries, spending a total of 52 days on the sidelines. This season, Varane has missed 19 games due to unspecified injuries.
Clearly, the situation doesn’t look promising for Varane. The 1993-born defender retired from the French national team to focus on Manchester United. However, things haven’t improved. With consecutive injuries, parting ways might be the best option.