Raphaël Varane has shocked fans by revealing the true reason behind his decision to leave Manchester United, cryptically saying, “No hair, no brain” in what appears to be a jab at head coach Erik ten Hag.

The French defender, who parted ways with United this past summer after his contract expired, has hinted at deeper issues behind the scenes. Varane, who joined the Red Devils in 2021 from Real Madrid for £42 million, admitted he initially hoped to extend his stay but realized toward the end of the season that the club’s direction no longer aligned with his vision.

“I wanted to continue my adventure at Manchester United, but by the start of the last season, I knew the project wasn’t right for me,” Varane told L’Equipe.

While he capped his time at United with a standout performance in their FA Cup final victory over Manchester City, Varane hinted that there was friction with Ten Hag’s approach. The “no hair, no brain” remark seemed to target the Dutch manager, whose authoritative style has reportedly caused unrest within the squad.

Following a series of fitness issues and his desire for a reduced workload, Varane ultimately chose to move on, joining Serie A side Como. However, his time on the pitch in Italy was short-lived, as a knee injury forced him to retire soon after making his debut. Despite stepping away from active play, Varane will remain involved with the club in a new, yet unspecified, role.

Fans are left speculating about the true extent of Varane’s fallout with Ten Hag, and whether more revelations about his United exit will surface.