RAPHAEL VARANE has been left “stunned” at his impending exit from Manchester United, Sun Sport can reveal.
Sources close to the 30-year-old Frenchman say he expected to “see out the final chapter of his career at Old Trafford”.
But the former Real Madrid ace now faces being flogged in the summer – as exclusively revealed by Sun Sport this week.
An insider said: “The events of the past few weeks have left Raphael and his advisers stunned to say the least.
“Nobody saw this coming at the start of the season. It was made clear he was a key part of the team and would be a vital player for the club and the manager moving forward.
“Raphael was delighted with that. He’d settled in well in Manchester, he loves the club and the fans and fully expected to see out the final chapter of his career at Old Trafford.
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“Now he's the fourth choice centre back and he faces looking for a new club in the summer and a new challenge.”
Sun Sport understands that Varane has vowed to remain “focused” for the remainder of the season, despite the uncertainty surrounding his future.
The source added: “He’s a professional who will train and work hard even if he’s not playing.
“It’s clear the manager has seen something he doesn’t like in recent weeks.
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"He has said he has made changes for tactical reasons but everyone in and around the club is very surprised a player of Varane’s quality has fallen down the pecking order so fast.
“It doesn’t make much sense. Raphael’s advisers wonder if this is about his wages and the club wanted to offload with new investors coming in.
“But Raphael hasn’t asked to leave and it’s not his desire to move on.
"That said, he wants to play football and it makes no sense for him or for the club for him to be sitting on the bench.”
We told earlier this week how Varane is set to leave Manchester United – but it won’t be until the summer.
And, contrary to claims Varane could return to Real Madrid, sources say he is more interested in a move to Italy or Saudi – as part of the latest exodus of superstar players.
Our source said: “The days are numbered for Raphael Varane at Manchester United, and the clock is ticking on his future.
“He started the season as a first team player now he’s fourth choice behind Jonny Evans.
“Leaving suits club and player, but he won’t be going anywhere in January.
“Erik ten Hag wants to keep the spine of his squad together to give United the best chance of making the top four.
“But in the summer United will listen to offers. There’s already interest from Saudi Arabia where Varane could pocket a massive uplift in his wages.
"But he’s also keen on Italy as it’s a league he admires and would love to be a part of.”
The Frenchman has fallen out of favour under Ten Hag in recent weeks, losing his place to Evans and Harry Maguire.
Signed from Real Madrid in 2021, he was expected to play a key role in United’s quest to reach the top of English football again and formed a decent partnership with Lisandro Martinez last season.
However he has since lost his place in the side despite denying claims that there had been a fallout between himself and Ten Hag.
It is believed he will cost in the region of £17-20m.
Varane is one of United’s highest earners on wages of around £340,000-per-week, behind Casemiro only, who has also been linked with a move, and Marcus Rashford.
Earlier this month, Ten Hag denied that he and Varane had fallen out after selecting him from the start in just one of United’s last eight games.
The Dutchman claimed: “It is about tactical reasons why I chose these partnerships. I think Harry and Jonny did well.
“What I said last year, Harry didn’t play a lot, so I was very happy with Rapha’s performances. I have always been happy with his performance.”
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