Manchester United defender Raphael Varane will leave the club when his contract runs out at the end of the season.
With an initial payment of roughly £34 million, the 31-year-old moved from Real Madrid in July 2021 and has since made 93 appearances.
The former France international assisted United in defeating Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final in 2023, under manager Erik ten Hag.
Before joining United, Varane was a three-time La Liga champion and four-time Champions League winner at Real Madrid, managed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Before he announced his retirement from international football in February 2023, he helped France win the World Cup in 2018.
It is uncertain if the center-back will be ready for United’s final three games of the season after missing the team’s 4-3 loss to Chelsea on April 4.
On Wednesday, they host Newcastle United, and on Sunday, they travel to Brighton for their final league match of the season.
On Saturday, May 25, at Wembley, Ten Hag’s team—now ranked ninth in the Premier League—will take on Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
“Despite the fact we have had a difficult season, I am very positive for the future,” said Varane.
“The new owners are coming with a clear plan and a great strategy.
“I will see you at Old Trafford to say goodbye in the last home game this season. And it’s going to be a very emotional day for me, for sure.”
Manchester United released the following statement on Varane’s departure, which reads as follows:
Raphael Varane has confirmed he will leave Manchester United in the summer, upon the expiry of his contract, following three seasons at Old Trafford.
The much-decorated defender arrived at the club from Real Madrid in August 2021, and was memorably unveiled in front of our home fans at the Theatre of Dreams, before the opening-weekend win over Leeds United.
Varane has brought a great deal of class and experience to the team throughout his 93 appearances so far. The Frenchman also helped to win our first major trophy in six years, when lifting the 2023 Carabao Cup at Wembley Stadium. Newcastle United were shut out in a 2-0 triumph for Erik ten Hag’s men, with Rapha showing all of his experience alongside Lisandro Martinez.
The 31-year-old has scored twice for the Reds, his first goal coming in a home win over Brentford a couple of years ago. Varane’s second effort earned us three points from our 1-0 victory against Wolves, at the opening of this current 2023/24 campaign.
However, it is unflappable work at the heart of the defence that Rapha is most recognised for, as he has shown his undoubted quality since joining the club.
To date, he has made 67 appearances in the Premier League, 58 as a starter.
The centre-back has been absent since the 4-3 defeat to Chelsea on 4 April but he is currently working hard on his recovery from injury, and hopes to be available again before the end of the campaign.
There are Premier League matches to come against Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion, before the Emirates FA Cup final versus Manchester City on 25 May.
Everybody at United thanks Rapha for his service and wishes him well for the future.
Photo by Backpagepix
