Champions League side would 'welcome Man Utd star with open arms'
Tom Weber
- Updated: 25 Nov 2023 12:49 GMT
- 3 min read
Raphael Varane's former club, RC Lens, would welcome the Manchester United star back with "open arms."
The Red Devils defender is facing an uncertain future at Old Trafford. The World Cup winner has lost his place in the side due to his persistent fitness issues and now finds himself behind the likes of Jonny Evans, Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire in the centre-back pecking order.
Rumours have abounded that this has led to severe friction between Erik ten Hag and the 30-year-old, though the Dutch coach played down this talk at a recent press conference. "Rapha Varane," Ten Hag said, "I don't know what you're talking about. It's rumours."
"Very important player, but there's internal competition and there should be at a top club, as we are. And when you decide on two players who do brilliant - Raphael Varane and Harry Maguire - you also have to make a choice for that position."
Nevertheless, the Frenchman can't be content with his lot at Man Utd and speculation around his future is refusing to go away.
Varane back to...Lens?
A host of clubs have been linked with Varane, most notably Bayern Munich and Chelsea. According to Blues "insider," a Chelsea board member has requested that Varane be snapped up should he become available in January.
Similarly, German media has reported that Bayern's higher-ups have been discussing the feasibility of making a move for Varane, though his current salary is a stumbling block. Finally, there are Saudi clubs who were already courting the ex-Real Madrid man in the summer.
But what about a return to one of his former clubs, the club where it all started for him? RC Lens gave the defender his first taste of professional football as a teenager before he headed to Los Blancos and coach Franck Haise, who led the Ligue 1 side into the Champions League when they finished as runners-up to PSG last term, has spoken about the prospect of re-signing Varane.
“If Raphael wants to come back," Haisle said at a recent press conference, "he is welcomed with open arms every time. With a contract, it's something else (laughs). I read that it was complicated for Bayern Munich to pay his salary. So if it's complicated for Bayern...But maybe he wants to come back, I don't know (laughs). It’s a great debate, but it’s not a current debate."
