How a Man United legend convinced Varane to snub Chelsea & PSG

Despite last-minute approaches from Chelsea and PSG, Raphael Varane joined Manchester United after a chat with Darren Fletcher.

Darren Fletcher has been credited as a key factor behind Manchester United’s signing of Raphael Varane.

The academy graduate starred in the Red Devils midfield between 2003 and 2015. He made 342 appearances and won 13 trophies, including five Premier League titles and the Champions League.

The 37-year-old returned to Old Trafford last October as a youth coach after his retirement. The club chiefs later appointed him as technical director in March. And judging by recent events, it appears they got this decision spot on.

According to ESPN, Fletcher, alongside football director John Murtagh, helped United seal a deal for Varane despite Real Madrid’s best efforts to stir interest from rival suitors.

🗞 Matt Judge drove the situation with a keen eye and a presentation to the Varane camp by John Murtough and Darren Fletcher about the culture and philosophy of #mufc, their plans and what they could offer the player was said to be persuasive and impressive. [@TelegraphDucker] pic.twitter.com/Oga1HZ36LX

— UtdDistrict (@UtdDistrict) July 28, 2021

Once Varane had told Real Madrid he wouldn’t sign an extension to his expiring contract, the Spanish giants decided to cash in. They invited Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain to make offers.

But the France international was only interested in heading to Old Trafford, and a chat with Fletcher left him feeling ‘particularly swayed’ into joining United.

Fletcher and Murtagh, who was also appointed back in March, held talks with Varane and his representatives. Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward, on the other hand, handled negotiations with Real Madrid.

In the end, United got their man for an initial fee of €39.8 million-plus add-ons for a 28-year-old defender in his prime.