When Manchester United completed the signing of French defender Raphael Varane in August 2021, it seemed like a great piece of business. Beyond being a Champions League winner on multiple occasions, Varane also lifted the World Cup in Russia in 2022.
Having been at the heart of Real Madrid’s defense for years, this signing was expected to make Man United genuine contenders. Three years later, things haven’t gone so smoothly, and the defender is set to leave.
But has Raphael Varane’s time at United been a total failure?
The Announcement
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Raphael Varane, through club channels, has just announced his departure from Manchester United. With his contract expiring at the end of the season, the much-decorated defender will be plying his trade elsewhere next season.
An official statement by Manchester United gives a sense of mutual agreement as it states, ‘He brought a great deal of class and experience throughout his 93 appearances.’ Similarly, Varane has expressed his desire to appear one last time before the united faithful.
Also Read: Man United Players Faking Injuries?: Former Legends’ Bold Claims Spark Controversy
Raphael Varane’s Time at Manchester United
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While it’s not surprising that Manchester United will not renew Raphael Varane’s contract, there’s some disappointment. This is because he arrived with much anticipation, and he’s largely performed well when fit.
However, he’s rarely been fit for the Red Devils. Along with his 93 appearances for United, he’s missed 46 games through injuries. This season alone, he’s only managed 16 appearances for the club, compounding their injury crisis. Despite this, Raphael Varane helped Manchester United end its six-year trophy drought with a 2-0 victory over Newcastle in the Carabao Cup in 2023.
To be fair, Raphael Varane hasn’t been bad for United; he’s just not been available enough. When he was fit, paired with Lisandro Martinez and with an in-form Casemiro sitting in front of them, United became a solid unit.
Could It Be the First of Many Departures?
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With Manchester United still licking its wounds from the weekend defeat by title-chasing Arsenal at Old Trafford, fans and legends are calling for heads to roll. And it’s with good reason. Earlier in the season, United crashed out of the Champions League embarrassingly.
They’re now sitting eighth in the league after stumbling in the race for a top-four finish over the last few months. During this period, they endured embarrassing defeats against Chelsea and Crystal Palace.
As a result, INEOS has made no efforts to hide their desire to rebuild the squad. This will likely result in several departures, including notable first-team players.
If the fans have their way, some of the candidates likely to leave at the end of the season include:
- Casemiro
- Sofyan Amrabat
- Scot Mctomminay
- Marcus Rashford
- Antony Martial
- Harry Maguire
- Jadon Sancho
- Antony
There’s no doubt that Manchester United’s new leadership team would love to sell most or all of these players this season. However, depending on what the market has in store, it’s likely that INEOS’s clear-out may extend well beyond summer.
That being said, without the right recruitment strategy, no clear-out will be enough to restore United to its former glory any time soon.
Let us know what you think Manchester United should do in the summer and which players to sell in the comments section.
About the Author
Chris is a soccer aficionado whose life revolves around the game. He’s played competitively and is now a soccer writer and coach. Whether it’s in-depth match and player analyses or tactical reviews, his engaging writing style appeals to fans worldwide. Keep following his writings to stay informed about all things soccer.
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