WORLD CUP WINNER CALLS AN END TO HIS MAN UNITED CAREER

Manchester United defender Raphael Varane will leave the club when his contract runs out at the end of the season.

The 31-year-old joined the Old Trafford side from Real Madrid in July 2021 for an initial fee of about £34m and has made 93 appearances.

The former France international helped United win the Carabao Cup in 2023 when manager Erik ten Hag’s side beat Newcastle United in the final.

Raphael Varane to Man United fans via X: “I’ll see you all at Old Trafford to say goodbye for the last game at home this season”. He went on to say, “It’s going to be a very emotional day for me”.

A statement released on Man United’s website read, “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 statement added, “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.”