Central defender Raphael Varane has seen his Manchester United contract expire, and he is now able to join any team as a free agent. It appears that Inter Miami CF, in Major League Soccer, could be the destination. Varane, who joined United from Real Madrid last summer, could join the likes of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets in south Florida.
However, it may be awhile until this move gets announced, as this is just in the early stages.
? Raphaël Varane is in talks to join Inter Miami on a free transfer. #MUFC [@arielsenosiain] pic.twitter.com/Kq0oG8EeZv
— mufcmpb (@mufcMPB) June 12, 2024
Much like his former teammates, at the last two clubs Casemiro, Varane had a solid first season at United, but then suffered through a subpar second season at MUFC where he was plagued by injuries and a drop in form.
Maybe the Frenchman finds himself again in MLS?
???? On Rapha Varane links: Inter Miami have just made an approach to ask on Varane potential free agent deal conditions, nothing else at the moment.
No negotiations, nothing advanced or decided. pic.twitter.com/XdV95sjPPV
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 13, 2024
Inter Miami seems to be the only MLS club that is keeping up that reputation the league has/once had: “retirement league for stars in Europe.” In the past couple years, that trend has shifted from the United States of America to Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Pro League seems to be doing that bit now, with Inter Miami the only real exception.
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to Ravens Wire, part of the USA Today SMG’s NFL Wire Network and the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated, Chicago Tribune and the Washington Times. You can follow him on Linked In and Twitter.