Raphael Varane 'feels Manchester United are forcing him out'
After playing a fundamental role in the Red Devils' success in the 2022-23 campaign alongside Lisandro Martinez, Varane has endured a much more frustrating season under Erik ten Hag this time around.
The former Real Madrid centre-back began the season strongly, netting the only goal in his side's 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on the opening Premier League weekend, but he often found himself on the bench following a minor injury in September.
Even with Martinez struggling with a recurrence of his foot injury, Varane fell behind Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and the returning Jonny Evans in the pecking order, purportedly to his chagrin.
A falling-out between Varane and Ten Hag was rumoured to have been the reason for his demotion to a bit-part role, although the latter denied rumours of a rift and has since brought him back into the XI following injuries to Maguire and Lindelof.
The 30-year-old has played the full 90 minutes in three of the Red Devils' last four Premier League games, but he is out of contract in six months' time and is free to begin talks with foreign teams over a pre-contract agreement.
Varane's terms — which were erroneously first reported as a four-year agreement in 2021 — include an option to extend his stay for another season, but Man United have supposedly decided not to activate that clause.
As a result, the Frenchman is due to depart as a free agent this summer unless he is sold during the current January window, and according to the Manchester Evening News, he feels that he is being pushed towards the exit door.
While a new contract for Varane has not been ruled out, Man United would
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