On Wednesday, September 24, 31-year-old French defender Raphaël Varane, known primarily for his achievements with Real Madrid and the French national team, announced on social media his decision to retire from football. Last summer, Varane was purchased by Como, who returned to Serie A twenty years after their last appearance: his acquisition was seen as a testament to the team’s ambitions, given that Varane has been one of the most successful defenders in recent decades, not just in European football. Since his arrival, however, he had only played 23 minutes in the Coppa Italia match Sampdoria-Como on August 11, during which he was substituted due to a knee injury.
It was clear that it would be a serious injury, and it was not the first time in recent years that Varane was forced to miss matches due to physical issues. However, this time the situation seemed worse from the start, and rumors about his possible retirement began to circulate, which were confirmed today by Varane himself. In the post published on social media, he stated that he would remain at Como, but not as a player: he will likely take on a role in management, although it has not yet been announced what that will be.
Born in Lille, France, in April 1993, Varane developed his football career at Lens, the team with which he made his professional debut. In the summer of 2012, he moved to Real Madrid, where he played for ten seasons, winning numerous major international and Spanish competitions, including four Champions Leagues, four Club World Cups, and three Spanish championships. In 2018, he won the World Cup with France, starting all the matches (he also scored a goal in the quarter-finals against Uruguay).
In 2021, he transferred to Manchester United, where he stayed for three seasons, winning more trophies but also missing several matches due to injury. In general, he is considered one of the best defenders in recent years, despite having faced many physical problems. Last April, he gave a lengthy interview to the French sports newspaper L’Équipe, where he primarily spoke about the risks and damages of concussions in football.