French defender Raphaël Varane, a key player in France’s 2018 World Cup victory, announced his retirement from football on Wednesday at the age of 31.
Varane, who previously played for Real Madrid and Manchester United, has been struggling with a knee injury since joining newly promoted Italian Serie A side Como. This injury has kept him out of the team’s official lineup.
In a heartfelt post on Instagram, Varane wrote, “I’ve fallen and gotten back up a thousand times, but this time, it’s time to stop and retire from the game after my last match, which ended with winning a cup at Wembley,” referring to his FA Cup victory with Manchester United against Manchester City.
Varane, who began his career with Lens’ reserve team and spent a season with their first team in 2010-2011, added, “I hold myself to the highest standards, and I want to leave the game strong, not just cling to it. It takes a lot of courage to listen to your heart and instincts. Desire and needs are two different things.”
He continued, “I’ve loved fighting for myself, for the clubs I’ve played for, my country, my teammates, and the fans of every team I’ve represented. From Lens to Madrid to Manchester, as well as playing for our national team,” adding, “I’ve defended every badge with everything I have and cherished every minute of the journey.”
Varane hinted at staying with Como in a different capacity, saying, “But without using my feet and shin guards. Something I look forward to sharing with you soon.”
Varane suffered a knee injury just 20 minutes into his first official match with Como in the Coppa Italia after joining the club on a free transfer this summer. Since then, he hasn’t appeared in any league matches.
He reflected on his career, saying, “I have no regrets, and I wouldn’t change anything. I’ve won more than I ever dreamed of, but more than the titles and trophies, I’m proud that no matter what, I stuck to my principles of honesty and tried to leave every place better than I found it. I hope I’ve made you all proud.”
Varane’s illustrious career includes four UEFA Champions League titles with Real Madrid, where he played for ten years after joining the club in 2011. He also won three La Liga titles and 11 other major trophies with the Spanish giants.
In 2021, Varane moved to Manchester United, where he added an FA Cup and a League Cup to his collection.
He played a crucial role in France’s 2018 World Cup triumph in Russia and their runner-up finish at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, in addition to winning the UEFA Nations League in the 2020-2021 season.
Varane concluded his announcement with a message of gratitude: “To the fans of every club I played for, 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.”
