Raphael Varane set to sign two-year deal with Como 1907 – Fabrizio Romano

Former Manchester United defender Raphael Varane is set to join Como 1907 on a two-year deal, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Italian transfer guru reveals the Frenchman has given his “formal signature” on the contract with the recently-promoted Serie A side and that his announcement as a “new Como player is imminent!”

Tweet: “Understand Raphael Varane’s formal signature on two year deal as new Como player is imminent!

Official statement to follow soon. Varane will join Como on two year deal valid until 202…exclusive story from June, set to be confirmed.”

One of the first decisions INEOS had influence over following confirmation of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s co-ownership bid in December was whether Varane’s contract at Old Trafford would be extended.

The 31-year-old centre-back’s deal has the option for an automatic twelve month extension in it but United decided against activating this.

Reports reveal Varane was earning as much as £340,000-a-week last season yet recurring injury problems meant he was not available anywhere near enough to justify this wage packet. One more year of this salary would have set United back over £17.5 million.

The partnership the Frenchman was able to strike up with Lisandro Martinez was one of the cornerstones of United’s success in Erik Ten Hag’s first season in the Premier League.

And, in large part, it was the Dutchman’s inability to consistently rely on this defensive duo last season, with both Martinez and Varane ruled out for large parts of the year, which led to United’s abysmal performances in the Premier League and Champions League.

Ten Hag was able to field the pair for the final game of the season – the FA Cup final against Manchester City – and the performance Varane and Martinez were able to produce spoke for itself as United ran out worthy 2-1 winners over their local rivals.

However, while Varane was often the club’s best ‘defensive’ defender, he also lacked the requisite technical ability to fully thrive in Ten Hag’s system. This, combined with his injury issues and considerable wage packet, meant INEOS made the decision last Christmas to move on from the former Real Madrid man.

After hitting the free agency market at the end of the season, Como 1907 were reported to have designated Varane as a “dream target” and launched a charm offensive to convince the World Cup winning defender to join their ranks, with great success.

Varane is set to complete the ‘big three’ of Europe’s leading leagues, having already played in Spain and England, with an official announcement of his move to Italy expected tomorrow.

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