L’affare era noto fin dalla metà di luglio, ma è diventato ufficiale soltanto oggi: Raphäel Varane è un nuovo giocatore del Manchester United. Il difensore classe 1993 è stato annunciato al pubblico dell’Old Trafford prima della partita contro il Leeds United, insieme ad una nota sul sito. Nonostante la distanza fra le parti fosse stata già colmata da tempo, l’annuncio è arrivato da pochi minuti, complici la burocrazia e l’isolamento cui ha dovuto sottoporsi il giocatore all’ingresso in Gran Bretagna.
Il francese, cresciuto in patria nel Lens, arriva alla corte di Solskjær dopo 10 anni e 18 trofei con la maglia del Real Madrid. In 360 partite con i blancos, Varane ha segnato 17 reti vincendo per 4 volte la Champions League e per 3 LaLiga. Nel suo palmares ci sono anche una Copa del Rey, 3 supercoppe spagnole, 3 supercoppe europee e 4 mondiali per club.
Le cifre dell’accordo e il comunicato ufficiale del Manchester United su Varane
Secondo il sito transfermarkt.it, le cifre dell’accordo si aggirano intorno ai 40 mln €, dunque inferiori ai 50 milioni inizialmente richiesti dagli iberici. Al Lens andrà inoltre il 2,5% della cessione, secondo l’accordo stipulato con il Real Madrid all’epoca del passaggio di Varane alle Merengues. Il giocatore ha firmato un contratto quadriennale fino al 2025. Ecco il comunicato ufficiale del Manchester United per l’acquisto di Varane:
“Manchester United is delighted to announce the signing of Raphäel Varane, keeping him at the club until June 2025.
Varane, 28, is one of the most decorated players in world football and has amassed over 19 trophies in his career so far, including four Champions Leagues, three Spanish titles and the 2018 World Cup. He has represented France 79 times and was part of the recent French squad at the 2020 European Championship.
Raphaël Varane said: «Manchester United is one of the most iconic clubs in world football and the chance to come here and play in the Premier League is something I couldn’t turn down. There is a lot more that I want to achieve in my career and I know I’m joining a squad full of great players who will all have the same determination to win matches and trophies.
Having spoken to the manager I can see how much progress has been made over the last few seasons and I now join a group ready to play at the highest level. I want to make an impact here and I will give everything to become part of this club’s illustrious history.»
Ole Gunnar Solskjær said: «I’m absolutely delighted that we have managed to secure one of the best defenders in the world over the last 10 years. Raphaël is a proven winner who we have tracked over a long period of time and we know just how much of a dedicated professional he is.
We have great depth of international defenders and he will add his immense skill set and leadership to that group. He is a unique defender with a rare combination of top-level attributes that I know will rub off on our younger players. He has won everything there is to win but I know that he is still determined to succeed, I can’t wait to welcome him into the squad.»”
