Raphael Varane is reportedly open to a shock return to former club Lens amid frustration over his game time at Manchester United.
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Varane ready to leave Man UtdUnhappy with game time under Ten HagRemains open to move to LensWHAT HAPPENED?
Varane has seen a decline in his playing time, with Jonny Evans and Harry Maguire being preferred over the 2018 World Cup winner at centre-back by manager Erik ten Hag. Although he was picked against Liverpool, he missed the trip to West Ham due to illness, which sparked further speculation about his future. Meanwhile, Lens manager Franck Haise insisted that the club remains open to Varane's return, although he admitted that contractual aspects add complexity to the situation.
AdvertisementWHAT FRANCK HAISE SAID ABOUT VARANE'S RETURN
“If Varane wants to return, we will welcome him with open arms,” Haise told reporters last month. “However, with the contract, it’s another thing. I read that it would also be complicated for Bayern Munich to pay his salary, and if it is for them… But maybe he wants to come back, and I don’t know, who knows."
Getty THE BIGGER PICTURE
According to French outlet , Varane is open to leaving United and Lens are being considered one of the potential destinations after Real Madrid pulled out of the race to sign him to solve their defensive crisis. Notably, Varane had previously mentioned that Lens, along with United and Real Madrid, are the clubs where he envisions retiring.
“I will finish my career either in Madrid, or in Manchester, or in Lens,” Varane said back in March. “I will not move to another club [other than those]. But Madrid seems complicated to me. Players don’t usually go back there. The most likely outcome today is that I will finish [my career] in either Manchester or Lens.”
DID YOU KNOW?
Varane made 24 appearances for Lens in the 2010-11 season before Zinedine Zidane recommended Real Madrid to sign him for just €10m (£8.6m/$11m).
