Manchester United have confirmed that defender Raphaël Varane will be leaving the club at the end of this season.
The Man United star and World Cup winner has had a largely injury-laden time in Manchester, with both he and the club agreeing that he will depart Old Trafford on a free after his contract expires this summer.
Having turned 31 in April and already retiring from international football last year in an effort to extend his career, the centre-back who won multiple titles with Real Madrid in Spain and four Champions Leagues will likely move somewhere less physically demanding than the English top-flight.
Sharing a heartfelt video message, the Frenchman thanks the supporters for an “amazing few years”, admitting, “I fell in love with the fans and the club” and adding that you can’t fully understand what it means to them until you play for them.
Varane bids a fond farewell after he confirms he will be leaving United this summer.
Going on to insist that Manchester will always be a first home for his kids and that sharing the Carabao Cup final with his teammates and Red and all the travelling fans will always be a “special memory”, it’s evident that he took the club fully into his heart.
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Varane joined United back in 2021 on a deal worth around £41 million, going on to make 93 appearances and helping them lift their major trophy in six years last season.
Even with multiple injury setbacks, he still managed to play 67 games in the Premier League, 58 from the start, and even grabbing a couple of goals to boot.
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Describing him as bringing a “great deal of class and experience”, “unflappable work at the heart of the defence” and “undoubted quality in just three short years”, the club were full of gratitude and well wishes for the rest of his career. You only have to see this clip to see the kind of relationship he had with United:
With just a trio of potential games left to play for United – Wednesday’s last home game against Newcastle, their final league match against Brighton on Sunday and the FA Cup final against Manchester City – all parties will be hoping he can sign off his time wearing Red in style.
Varane has been sidelined with his latest issue (a muscle strain) since early April, but it goes without saying that having arguably their best and most experienced defender fit for a crucial Manchester derby would be a huge boost to the United, who have racked up a laundry list of injuries all over the pitch.
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Rapha signed off by saying that he’s looking forward to saying a formal goodbye to the club tomorrow night, confessing: “It’s going to be a very emotional day for me, for sure”.
Alex Sanderson summons Rudyard Kipling as Sale Sharks scrape into the semi-finals
Danny Jones
Director of Rugby Alex Sanderson referenced the famous Rudyard Kipling after Sale Sharks managed to book their place in the playoffs of this year’s Gallagher Premiership following a nail-biter of a fixture against Exeter Chiefs.
The Sharks sealed their spot in the semi-finals with a 30-26 win over the Chiefs on Saturday night, with a trio of tries, a singular pen and calmness when it came to conversions proving just enough to make it to full time.
Speaking on the narrow score at Sandy Park, Sanderson himself applauded that same composure during his post-match duties, casually quoting Kipling ahead of the next big game.
Writing on social media after nerves had just about settled, the club simply said: “Apologies for raising the heart rate, Sharks Family… but Saturday we go again.”
Beginning with an expression of that same defiant spirit that has seen them across the line on so many occasions, the 45-year-old told TNT Sports, “We got another Monday in us.”
The Sale Sharks coach went on to add: “So if you can keep your head, when everybody else is losing theirs – I think that’s the old Rudyard Kipling poem – you’re in such a better place on the back of that, knowing what we can fix from the Leicester game and what we can do better from today.”
It’s not every day you hear sportsmen calling up the poetic words of the beloved British-India writer, but it certainly impressed plenty of supporters, though Sanderson has always been popular among fans for his candour and charisma in interviews.
Ultimately, it was Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, Bevan Rodd, Luke Cowan-Dickie and George Ford that the Greater Manchester outfit had to thank for the electrifying finish
You can see how much it meant, clear as day…
Not done yet…
Thank you for your support Sharks Family, it’s truly appreciated!
Sale Sharks will now take on Leicester Tigers (who the local side finished just behind in third place following the result against the Chiefs) in the Premiership semis as they look to get revenge for previous painful meetings
Are you feeling hopeful, Sharks Family?
You can see the full highlights from Sale Sharks’ tense victory over the Exeter Chiefs down below.
Alex Sanderson channelled Rudyard Kipling and Sale scrapped like true Sharks.
Luxury Manchester gym Blok confirms permanent closure after weeks of uncertainty
Daisy Jackson
Blok Manchester has announced its permanent closure, weeks after the doors to the premium fitness facility mysteriously closed.
Around a fortnight ago, members began to arrive to their classes to find the gym on Ducie Street locked up and a forfeiture notice on the door – but at the time, Blok said that it was fighting to reopen.
Sadly, in an email sent to members today, its founder has confirmed that the studio is now permanently closed.
Blok – which has several very successful sites down in London – said that its relationship with its landlord has ‘broken down to a point where trust has been lost’.
The gym wrote that it’s been left with ‘no workable way forward’.
They said: “BLOK Manchester was a space built by our loyal and dedicated community. Whether you joined us for one class or one hundred, we are deeply grateful. You helped create something genuinely special in an incredible city.”
In the immediate future, they said they’ll be supporting the team of fantastic trainers who worked here, as well as looking after members.
Members will be contacted within a few hours with options and refunds owed.
Blok Manchester has announced its permanent closure. Credit: The Manc Group
CEO and founder Ed Stanbury said: “While this marks the end of a chapter, we don’t see it as the end of our story in Manchester. We’re already speaking with developers about potential future sites and remain committed to returning to the city when the time is right.
“Thank you for being part of our story so far. Let’s shape the future of wellness. The mission continues.”
Commenting on Blok’s Instagram post – its first in almost a fortnight – people have been sharing their sadness at the closure of its Manchester site.
One person wrote: “beautiful space, beautiful staff and beautiful community.”
Another said: “Sending love to all the instructors !! :(((( gutted”
Someone else commented: “THE BEST CLASSES. I’m gutted.”
Danny Jones -
14th May 2024 
