Frank Christian
Former Manchester United player Raphael Varane recently opened up about his unexpected choice to depart from Old Trafford last summer, as well as his quick exit from professional football.
The French World Cup champion moved to Italian club Como as a free agent but was compelled to retire by September due to a knee injury suffered during his first game.
At 31, Varane expressed that although he treasured his time at United, the club’s direction was no longer in line with his personal aspirations as he neared the end of his playing days.
Here’s his perspective on the developments from the past several months.
‘I wished to conclude my career there’ — Raphael Varane
L’Equipe, Varane noted that ideally, he would have liked to remain at United for another year.
He remarked: “As my last season at Manchester United began, I was already thinking about wanting to finish there and prolong my experience a bit. It didn’t materialize, and the summer was quite eventful.”
After being released by United, he sought a new challenge but preferred a less intense playing schedule.
“I aimed to play only once a week,” Varane stated, indicating that United’s busy schedule and their ambitious goals conflicted with his desire for a lighter workload.
Ultimately, Varane found what he was looking for in Como, a club that offered a meaningful project. “Como stood out; it wasn’t about glamour or finances, but it made sense humanly,” he explained about his choice to join the less renowned Italian team.
Sadly, a knee injury during his debut match with Como cut his football journey short, leading to an early retirement—an unfortunate turn for the accomplished defender.
Despite this sudden conclusion, Varane reflected positively on his illustrious career, having secured four Champions League titles with Real Madrid and winning both the FA Cup and League Cup during his tenure at United.
