MANCHESTER UNITED fear Raphael Varane will miss the rest of the season and leave them without both first-choice centre-backs for the run-in.
Lisandro Martinez had already been ruled out for the final two months with a broken metatarsal suffered in the Europa League first leg against Sevilla.
But now United insiders have revealed Varane, who limped out of the same Old Trafford clash at half-time, could also be sidelined for the remainder.
It adds to Erik ten Hag’s woes ahead of today’s FA Cup semi-final with Brighton, with Harry Maguire also suspended for the Wembley showdown.
Yet the prospect of being without Varane, 29, for the remaining eight Premier League games is a serious blow as they try to seal a top-four finish.
The French defender had managed an ankle issue for a month or so before aggravating it in the Euro quarter-final.
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Initial scans could not give detailed results due to severe swelling — but now there are suggestions he could be sidelined for up to six weeks.
That takes him up to the Cup final if United get there and the fear is he would struggle to make it.
Varane has been hampered by injuries since his £34million move from Real Madrid in 2021.
But this term he has formed a solid partnership with Martinez when fit.
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Varane has made 21 Premier League appearances this season, which is one fewer than he made all of last season.
The centre-back, who turns 30 this week, and Martinez are two of a few players missing as United enter the last stretch of the season
Anthony Martial limped out of the defeat against Sevilla while Scott McTominay is also out.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
