RAPHAEL VARANE has publicly urged Paul Pogba to stay at Manchester United.
The midfielder has entered the final year of his contract at Old Trafford and can open talks with club’s from abroad in January over a free transfer.
Barcelona and Juventus are both keen as are Paris Saint-Germain.
To stop the 28-year-old from walking away for nothing for a second time, United are believed to be willing to make Pogba their second top earner behind Cristiano Ronaldo.
But Red Devils summer signing Varane hopes his fellow French international will commit his future to United as he revealed how the ace convinced him to quit Madrid for the Theatre of Dreams.
The defender told Norwegian broadcaster TV2: “It is of course his decision, but of course I hope he stays here for a long time. He is a fantastic player, so undoubtedly I hope he stays.
“He did not have to convince me that I should move here, but I talked to him about the club to find out what it is like to be here day-to-day.
“It was important for me to hear his opinions and thoughts about the club, the team and their ambitions.”
Varane spent a decade playing alongside Spanish legend Sergio Ramos at the back during his time at the Bernabeu.
Now he is attempting to forge a partnership with Harry Maguire at United.
On the England centre-half, he added: “He is a top player. On the field we are still working to get to know each other better.
“We try to talk to each other so that we can understand each other even better, and in that way coordinate our movements and our positioning. This applies not only to me and Harry, but to the entire defence.
“It is understandable that we need some time for things to become automated, but it will happen because the defence consists of quality players who have qualities that complement each other.
“I think gradually we will develop a better understanding and a better partnership, which in turn will lead to us being able to perform and compete at our maximum level.”
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