Raphael Varane announced on Tuesday that he will depart from Manchester United at the end of the season when his contract expires, concluding a three-year tenure at Old Trafford.
The 31-year-old former France defender joined the club from Real Madrid in 2021 for an initial fee of approximately £34 million ($43 million).
During his time at United, he made 93 appearances and scored twice. Varane was part of the squad that secured the club's first trophy in six years, winning the 2023 League Cup.
Injuries have disrupted Varane’s career at United, and he has not played since a 4-3 defeat to Chelsea on April 4. He hopes to return to the field before the season ends.
Varane expressed his gratitude to the fans on social media, stating, “To you guys, supporters of Manchester United, it’s been an amazing few years to play for this special club and wear that shirt. The first time I went to Old Trafford as a Man United player was insane, the atmosphere was amazing. I fell in love with the club, with the fans. You have to play for Man United to understand what that represents.”
Despite acknowledging the difficulties of the current season, Varane remains optimistic about the club's future: “Despite the fact we had a difficult season, I’m very positive for the future. The new owners (United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe) are coming with a clear plan and a great strategy.”
Manchester United confirmed Varane’s exit in a statement, praising his contribution: “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.”
The club has faced a challenging season, currently sitting in eighth place in the Premier League with 14 defeats, making European qualification unlikely. Erik ten Hag’s team has two league matches remaining, against Newcastle and Brighton, before they face Manchester City in the FA Cup final on May 25.
