Raphael Varane will leave Manchester United at the end of the season.

The French centre-back, 31, will depart Old Trafford after three years upon the expiry of his contract.

Varane has made 93 appearances for the club and lifted the Carabao Cup last season – the club’s first major trophy in six years. 

He has been one of the club’s highest earners on £340,000 per week and the club chose not to extend his deal back in December, as exclusively revealed by Mail Sport. 

‘To you guys, supporters of Manchester United, it’s been an amazing few years, to play for this special club and wear that shirt,’ he said in an emotional video message posted on Instagram. 

‘For my kids, it’s home here. It’s going to be a special place for me, for life.

‘The first time I went to Old Trafford as a Man United player was insane. The atmosphere was amazing.

 ‘I fell in love with the club, with the fans. You have to play for Man United to understand what that represents.

‘When the fans go to Wembley, it’s something they remember for life. To share that moment with them (last season) was absolutely amazing.

‘Despite the fact we had a difficult season, I am very positive for the future. 

‘The new owners are coming with a clear plan and a great strategy. 

‘I’ll see you at Old Trafford to say goodbye for the last game at home this season and it’s going to be a very emotional day for me, for sure.’

When United signed Varane for £42m in August 2021, there was a sense that they had signed footballing royalty. 

He received a buoyant reception as he strode out on the turf ahead of their season opener against Leeds that year, with fans out of their seats and chanting to welcome a modern legend. 

Here came a World Cup winner and a four-time Champions League winner, laden with 18 trophies from his time at Real Madrid. 

Here came one of the foremost centre-backs of his generation, potentially with the power to transform the fortunes of a grand old club. 

He leaves without the highest honours that he came to deliver but few United fans would fault his performances when he is fully fit. 

In particular, fans will point to his partnership with Lisandro Martinez last season as the best central defensive pairing the club has had in recent years. 

Indeed, it was those two who marshalled the back line in the 2-0 Carabao Cup final win over Newcastle last year. Varane could yet add an FA Cup to his trophy cabinet against Manchester City on May 25. 

He has been kept sidelined with a muscle injury since early April, being absent from the slump that has seen United win just one of their last eight Premier League games. 

Mail Sport has been told that United regard the 30-year-old’s current £340,000-a-week wages as hard to justify given the injury problems that have restricted his game time this season. 

United are also seeking to reduce the wages of their highest-earning players more generally to free up resources for new signings as they battle to comply with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules.

While unswervingly solid and calm on the ball, Varane hasn’t been known for his contributions at the other end of the pitch.

He has chipped in with two goals in his time at the club, one of which was United’s only goal and winner against Wolves on the opening day of this season. 

‘It is unflappable work at the heart of the defence that Rapha is most recognised for, as he has shown his undoubted quality since joining the club,’ United said in a statement. 

‘Everybody at United thanks Rapha for his service and wishes him well for the future.’