In a candid admission, Raphael Varane, the former Manchester United defender, has shed light on his surprising decision to leave Old Trafford last summer and his abrupt retirement from football.
The French World Cup winner, who joined Italian side Como on a free transfer, was forced to retire after suffering a knee injury on his debut.
Varane, 31, revealed that while he cherished his time at Manchester United, the club’s project no longer aligned with his personal goals as he approached the twilight of his career.
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‘I would have liked to finish there’ — Raphael Varane
Speaking to L’Equipe, Varane admitted that in an ideal scenario, he would have continued at United for one more year. “At the start of my last season at Manchester United, I was already telling myself that I would have liked to finish there, to extend the adventure a little,” Varane said. “It didn’t happen, and the summer was very eventful.”
Released by United at the end of last season, the defender was on the hunt for a new challenge but wanted to take a more measured approach to his game time. “I also wanted to play only once a week,” Varane explained, hinting that United’s hectic schedule and ambitious plans didn’t suit his desires for a more manageable workload.
Varane ultimately found what he was looking for in Como, a team with a unique appeal. “Como was a project that stood out, it wasn’t exotic, not financial, but humanly it made sense,” he said of his decision to join the Italian club.
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Unfortunately, fate had other ideas. A knee injury suffered in his first match with Como put an end to his footballing journey, forcing him into early retirement — a devastating blow for the highly decorated defender.
Despite the abrupt ending, Varane reflected fondly on his glittering career, which saw him lift four Champions League titles with Real Madrid and win the FA Cup and League Cup during his three years at Manchester United.
As for his time at Old Trafford, Varane noted that he left on a high, having secured a cup victory in his final season, but conceded, “I already knew that the club’s project didn’t suit me.” While his departure may have surprised many, the Frenchman leaves the game with his legacy intact, even if his final chapter was cut short.