Man Utd hero completes SHOCK move to minnows

Carlo Garganese

23 Jul 2024 13:00 BST
3 min read

Raphael Varane has completed a shock move to Serie A minnows Como, with the transfer set to become official imminently.

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Fabrizio Romano and others report that Varane has signed a two year contract with Como until June 2026 with the option of another year.

Varane moves on a free transfer to Como , who boast Italy’s richest owners in Indonesian tobacco giants Djarum Group, with the Hartono brothers worth around $48 billion.

Managed by Cesc Fabregas, Como were promoted to Serie A for the first time in two decades and have already signed the likes of Andrea Belotti, Pepe Reina, Alberto Moreno and Paul Lopez.

Varane’s contract at Manchester United expired at the end of last month after the Red Devils decided not activate the option to extend his deal by another year.

The France centre left the club on a free transfer on July 1.

© IMAGO - Raphael Varane left Man Utd this summer

Varane lost his place in the United first team this past season and generally only started when there was a succession of injuries to other centre backs.

He fell so far down the centre back order earlier in the campaign that Jonny Evans, Victor Lindelof and even Luke Shaw were all preferred to him as Harry Maguire’s centre back partner.

Varane’s relationship with manager Erik ten Hag was also not the best, while he also suffered from an increasing number of injuries in recent years.

Varane joined Man Utd from Real Madrid in 2021 but did not impress like he did during 10 brilliant years in Spain.

The France centre back did finish his Man Utd career on a high, though, as he performed excellently in the FA Cup final as the Red Devils beat Man CIty 2-1.

Clubs in Saudi Arabia had also been linked with the centre back, who is only 31.