Manchester United defender Raphael Varane attracted Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad as the Frenchman is finding it difficult to get regular playing time at his current club.
Varane, 30, fell out of favour with head coach Erik Ten Hag and has also made five starts in the Premier League (PL) this season while the likes of Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, and Jonny Evans have gone above the Frenchman in the pecking order.
As the 30-year-old’s situation at the Manchester club gets worse, reports of interest from the Saudi Pro League and his former club Real Madrid have emerged in recent days.
Injuries to Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro forced Ten Hag to trust and start Varane again. While the 30-year-old is unlikely to change clubs mid-season, he is aware that the current situation cannot be prolonged for more than a season.
A move to the Middle East would see him reuniting with his former teammate Karim Benzema, with whom he played at Madrid for 10 years.
On the other hand, despite many reports, there has been no contact between Los Blancos and Varane’s entourage as The Whites have no intention of bringing back the Frenchman due to his constant struggle with injuries.
As things stand, a move to the Saudi Pro League remains a huge possibility for Varane, who aims for constant first-team playing time.
It must be noted that United were handed a 2-0 loss at London Stadium on Saturday and problems have increased for Ten Hag.
Currently positioned in eighth place, United have managed only one victory in the last seven games across all competitions.
They've suffered three defeats in their last four matches, failing to score in any of them for the first time since 1992.
United suffered 13 losses in all competitions this season — their highest number of defeats before Christmas since 1930-31, a season where they finished at the bottom of the table.
They were also eliminated from the UEFA Champions League as they finished bottom of their group
