Raphael Varane might leave Manchester United before his contract expires in 2025

According to The Athletic (subscription required) (h/t Manchester Evening News), Manchester United defender Raphael Varane appears poised to depart the club before his contract expires in 2025. The Frenchman’s current contract is due to end after this season, but there’s a possibility of extending it for an additional year.

Upon Varane’s arrival from Real Madrid in August 2021, Manchester United made it clear that he had committed to the club until June 2025. However, his recent absence from Erik ten Hag’s team has sparked speculation that the club might contemplate selling him at the end of this season, should they decide to do so.

The specific details of the potential contract extension remain uncertain, often contingent on either the player reaching a specified number of appearances or, in the absence of such a clause, the club making a judgment based on their performances.

In a pivotal Champions League match against Bayern Munich, Varane finally made a start for United and performed well. Nonetheless, his efforts couldn’t prevent the disappointment of a 1-0 defeat, leading to the club’s exit from the competition.

The partnership between Varane and Lisandro Martinez proved fruitful for United as they finished the previous season strongly, securing an excellent third-place finish in the Premier League and clinching victory in the Carabao Cup before heading into the FA Cup final. Rumours suggest tension between Varane and Erik ten Hag due to the defender’s time spent on the bench.

However, it’s believed that Varane’s frustrations began during United’s Carabao Cup match against Newcastle United, where he was unexpectedly benched. This decision came just days after being substituted for Jonny Evans in the match against Manchester City.

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Following our disappointing exit from European competition, we will be eager to recover and get back to winning ways. With a trip to Anfield due on Sunday, Varane will have the opportunity to showcase how important he can be to the current roster.