“He is among the finest players I’ve encountered, and I would relish the opportunity to play alongside him repeatedly. His exceptional abilities on the field never cease to amaze me, and he consistently locates me during matches.”

Al Nassr is reportedly preparing a staggering £50 million-a-year offer to lure a Manchester United player to the Saudi Pro League. Despite a convincing 3-0 victory over West Ham over the weekend, Erik ten Hag’s squad finds themselves trailing by eight points from the top four, indicative of a turbulent season for United.

With Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos poised to assume control of football operations at Old Trafford ahead of the summer, significant changes are anticipated at the club in the coming months. One player expected to depart is Raphael Varane, as his contract is set to expire at the end of the season, with United opting against triggering a 12-month extension clause in his deal.

According to reports from the Metro, although Raphael Varane is willing to continue at Manchester United, the club is seeking to renegotiate his contract on terms lower than his current £350,000-a-week wages. Consequently, Varane appears likely to depart United at the end of the season on a free transfer. As reported by the Daily Star, the absence of a transfer fee could potentially see Varane earn even more than his current United wage if he accepts a move to Saudi Arabia.

Allegedly, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr could offer the 2018 World Cup winner wages amounting to £50 million per year.

Ronaldo and Varane shared the field as teammates for nearly a decade at Real Madrid, and their partnership continued for 18 months at Old Trafford. Ronaldo’s groundbreaking move to Saudi Arabia in January 2023 played a significant role in drawing other star players to the emerging league the following summer. Among these signings were Sadio Mane and Aymeric Laporte, both of whom joined Ronaldo at Al Nassr.

In the meantime, Manchester United is aiming to bolster their defensive lineup in the summer transfer window. Reports suggest that the club has identified Jean-Clair Todibo and Jarrod Branthwaite as potential targets to reinforce their center-back position.