Raphael Varane has announced his retirement from football at the age of 31 after suffering a serious knee injury.
The defender joined Serie A club Como this summer after leaving Manchester United at the end of last season after his contract expired.
He signed a two-year contract early but suffered a serious knee injury just 23 minutes into his debut against Sampdoria in the Coppa Italia.
In August, the France international was dropped from the club’s squad list for the league season, and the injury has now forced him to call time on his illustrious career.
“They say all good things must come to an end,” Varane wrote in a lengthy Instagram message that revealed his plans for the future.
“A new life starts from the field. I will stay with Como. Only without using boots and shin pads. Something I want to show more about.”
In all, he made 480 appearances for the club during a 14-year career that saw him win the Champions League four times with Real, as well as earn 93 caps for France and lift the 2018 World Cup.
He helped the Spanish club secure three LaLiga titles, having joined from Lens as an 18-year-old in 2011, and was a defensive mainstay as Real dominated Europe’s top competition, playing in three of the four finals the team won between 2014 and 2018.
A move to United in the summer of 2021 was expected to help the Old Trafford side bounce back after a disappointing couple of seasons, but the Red Devils have only finished sixth, third and eighth in three years, failing to go beyond the last. 16 from the Champions League.
Varane suffered a serious knee injury on his Como debut
However, one of his last acts for the club was helping them lift the 2024 FA Cup, beating Manchester City 2-1 at Wembley. The team also won the Carabao Cup in the previous campaign.
United posted on X: “You represented our colors differently in three seasons at Old Trafford.
“We thank you for your humility, leadership and commitment. We hope these qualities will serve you well in your next endeavor.
“Once a red, always a red.”
The highlight of his career came in 2018 when he played in all seven matches as France won their second World Cup, scoring in the quarter-final against Uruguay, as Les Bleus went on to beat Croatia 4-2 in the final in Moscow.
He added on Instagram: “I don’t regret it, I wouldn’t change anything. I’ve won more than I could have dreamed of, but beyond the awards and trophies, I’m proud that no matter what, I keep my principles, I’m sincere and I’ve tried to leave somewhere more than I found.
“I hope I’ve made you all proud.”
How Real Madrid formed Varane
Sky Sports’ Adam Bate, wrote in August 2021:
He was the worst kept secret in European football in 2011. A teenage defender with height and speed, skilled enough to play at the highest level. He is only 17 years old, but the biggest club in the world are watching – much to the frustration of Sir Alex Ferguson.
The story of Manchester United’s pursuit of young Raphael Varane has become more important in the ten years since he almost signed. The defender has won one World Cup and four Champions Leagues since Ferguson jumped on the train to France.
The United legend’s recollection of events in April 2011 was that Zinedine Zidane “took him from under our noses” while chief executive David Gill was going through the finer points of his contract with Lens. In Madrid, a different conversation took place.
Jose Mourinho will come to the end of his first season in the job and will face the reality of Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona. The 5-0 defeat at the Camp Nou in November was punishing. A rebuild is required.
In a meeting to discuss future plans, Zidane, who worked as a special adviser before being announced as the new sporting director that summer, said there was a centre-back at Lens who would be better than World Cup-winning captain Laurent Blanc.
