On Wednesday, French defender Raphaël Varane, former Manchester United and Real Madrid player, announced his retirement from football.
Varane, 31, joined newly promoted Serie A club Como for two years after leaving Manchester United at the end of last season. However, he sustained a knee injury during his first appearance with the team in an Italian Cup match against Sampdoria.
Last August, the French international’s name was removed from the team’s roster for the new season, and his injury has now forced him to end his career.
In an Instagram post, Varane said: « And so, a new life begins off the field. I will stay with Como, but without using my boots and shin guards. I look forward to sharing more about this soon. »
He added: « To all the fans of the clubs I’ve played for, to my teammates, coaches, and staff… From the bottom of my heart, thank you for making this journey more special than I could have ever dreamed. »
Varane played 480 matches over a 14-year career, winning the Champions League four times with Real Madrid. He also earned 93 international caps with the French national team, helping them win the 2018 World Cup.
