The FA Cup Final saw Manchester United’s players fight for a common cause, to end the season on a high a win a trophy.
It’s no secret this Manchester United squad is heading in different directions. As many as 11 first team stars could leave, in addition to selling on the various players out on loan.
That’s why it was so special to see Manchester United’s players set all that aside and produce a big performance the moment demanded, and this was represented by Raphael Varane‘s display.
Varane, a £34 million signing from Real Madrid in 2021, had already announced he would leave the club, with his contract expiring at the end of the current season.
Why Manhester United let Varane leave
When Raphael Varane announced his exit, his departure did not come as a surprise. Manchester United had declined to activate an extension to keep him around on his expensive contract.
This season Varane had made only 16 Premier League starts. When fit, he is still one of the best centre-backs in football.
The trouble is, he has found it difficult to stay healthy, and Manchester United made a pragmatic decision to move on, and invest in a younger centre-back, the identity of who is yet to be determined.
And that’s all sensible enough, but watching Varane in the FA Cup Final was a bittersweet feeling as Manchester United defeated bitter rivals City.
Raphael Varane performance was world class
For the second FA Cup Final in a row, Raphael Varane nullified the threat of Erling Haaland. This time, he had Lisandro Martinez alongside him.
Martinez and Varane have shown signs over the past two years that they should be considered as United’s best partnership in central defence since Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand.
It’s just a shame we have not been able to see them play together on a regular basis in 2023/24.
Against City, the Frenchman was immaculate. He completed 95 per cent of his passes from the back, made seven clearances, and rarely looked troubled.
Varane is only 31, but will feel a lot older in football terms. He has been playing at a world class level since he was a teenager.
While it’s understandable United have not kept him around, it’s a great shame he is not five years younger.
Varane bows out on a high, setting the standard for Manchester United’s next centre-back. While they may be available more than him, from a quality perspective, he will be hard to match.
He showed at Wembley that on his day, he is still absolutely world class, and is a loss to Manchester United and to France.