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 in September after suffering a knee injury on his debut.
Varane, 31, revealed that while he cherished his time at United, the club’s project no longer aligned with his personal goals as he approached the twilight of his career.
Here’s what he said about the events that have transpired in the past few months.
‘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.
He said: “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. 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 added, 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 previously unfashionable Italian club.
Unfortunately, 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 United.
