Raphael Varane is set to complete his shock transfer to Serie A club Como after leaving Manchester United as a free agent.
According to reputed journalist Fabrizio Romano, Como have made Varane their ‘dream’ target and the two parties are holding face-to-face conversations.
Varane’s imminent move to the newly promoted Italian club is a major surprise.
He was one of the highest earners at Man United with a staggering weekly wage of £340,000.
Como’s weekly payroll was merely £218,193 last season, whereas United’s was £3,244,796.
United opted to part ways with Varane for free due to his hefty wages and injury susceptibility.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to restructure the club and reduce the wage bill. Letting Varane leave gives him considerable room to manoeuvre and save funds for future transfers.
However, United should have offered Varane a new contract with reduced wages.
Varane showed his class at the latter end of the season.
He delivered a robust performance against Liverpool and was rock-solid in the FA Cup final against Manchester City, misplacing only one of his 22 passes.
The Frenchman could have stayed one more season and helped United during this crucial transformational phase.
The Red Devils hope to bolster their backline by recruiting two top talents – Matthijs de Ligt and Jarrad Branthwaite.
Varane’s invaluable wisdom and vast experience could have been instrumental in nurturing their development.
With his impending move to Como, it’s evident that earning a massive salary wasn’t his primary concern.
Time will tell whether United made the right decision by allowing Varane to leave Old Trafford without offering a reduced contract.
Stats from Capology.com.
