bourbiza mohamed
- Raphael Varane’s contract with Manchester United will expire on Sunday
- The 31-year-old has landed in Italy for transfer talks with Serie A side Como
- Como are part-owned by former Chelsea and Arsenal star Cesc Fabregas
Raphael Varane was in Italy this weekend to discuss a possible move that would see him add Serie A to the list of major leagues he has played in.
Varane’s impressive career has so far seen him represent Lens in France’s Ligue 1, Real Madrid in Spain’s La Liga and, most recently, Manchester United in England’s Premier League.
The 31-year-old French centre back’s contract with United will expire on Sunday, making him available on a free transfer this summer.
Varane has been linked with interest from David Beckham’s Inter Miami in the USA but he could be set to sign for Italian outfit Como, who are part-owned by another Premier League legend in Cesc Fabregas.
Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano reported via X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday morning that Varane had landed in Como for talks with the club’s board, including Fabregas – who previously made 17 first-team appearances for the club on the pitch before retiring from playing at the end of the 2022-23 season.
Raphael Varane, pictured before the FA Cup final in May, is leaving Man United this summer
Varane could be set to move to Italian side Como, who play at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia
Serie A side Como are part-owned by former Chelsea and Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas
Fabregas briefly served as Como’s caretaker manager between November and December last year, delivering three wins in five games.
He was then replaced by Welshman Osian Roberts, who guided Como to second place in Serie B and therefore promotion to Serie A.
Como’s Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia is a far cry from United’s 74,310-seater Old Trafford stadium.
The average attendance at Como’s home games in Serie B last season was just over 6,000.
Varane made 32 appearances for United in his final season at Old Trafford. That took his overall tally of games for the Manchester club to 95 since his arrival from Madrid in 2021.
Fabregas pictured (center) celebrating in May after Como secured promotion from Serie B
Varane made 95 first-team appearances for United, including one in this year’s FA Cup final
Fabregas has been working as a BBC Sport pundit at Euro 2024 but he is now back in Italy
He previously featured in 360 matches for Madrid and won 18 trophies with the Spanish giants, including four Champions League titles.
Varane lifted two trophies during his time as a United player – the EFL Cup in 2023 and the 2024 FA Cup, after starring in a 2-1 victory over Manchester City in his final appearance for the club.
