Raphael Varane has been left unhappy at Manchester United after the club opted against triggering the 12-month extension in his contract before the January 1 deadline, according to reports. The 30-year-old defender’s future has plunged into doubt as he enters the final six months of his current deal.
United triggered the clauses in Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof and Hannibal Mejbri’s contracts to reserve their value or potentially buy time to agree fresh terms.
But Varane’s £340,000-a-week salary has proven problematic during an assessment of the club’s finances, similar to how David de Gea’s exit came about last July.
The French World Cup winner will likely have to accept a pay cut to extend his stay at Old Trafford or leave on a free transfer at the end of the season.
According to the Manchester Evening News, Varane is unsettled by the developments, having already been disappointed by how his third season has panned out.
He is said to feel pushed out by United and is now unsure whether he will commit his future to the club on a reduced salary before his contract expiry.
The report adds that the lack of stability at United this season – brought upon by the Glazer family’s farcical takeover process – hasn’t impressed Varane, one of the game’s most decorated defenders.
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Varane was a behemoth alongside Lisandro Martinez during Erik ten Hag’s first season in charge, helping the Dutchman lift the Carabao Cup and finish third in the Premier League.
United lost just five of the 27 games in which Varane started throughout the campaign.
But his availability since his £34million arrival from Real Madrid in 2021 has been an issue. Varane has missed 38 of a possible 138 at United.
He has missed seven games this season due to injury or illness and slipped behind Harry Maguire in Ten Hag’s pecking order before the former captain’s spell on the sidelines.
