Former Manchester United defender Raphael Varane recently opened up about his decision to leave Old Trafford over the summer.
After three years with the club, Varane’s contract expired in June, and he chose to move on as a free agent. Varane, who joined Manchester United from Real Madrid in 2021 for £42 million, revealed that he had initially hoped to stay longer but realized towards the end of last season that it was time for a change.
“In the beginning of my last season at United, I thought I’d like to finish my career there and continue the journey a bit longer,” Varane shared with L’Equipe. “But it didn’t happen, and the summer was quite eventful. I finished with a win in the FA Cup, but by then I knew the club’s direction wasn’t the right fit for me.”
Varane played a crucial role in United’s surprising FA Cup final win over rivals Manchester City at Wembley, putting in a standout performance despite returning from injury. However, after dealing with several injuries in recent years and voicing concerns about the demanding football schedule, Varane explained that he wanted to reduce his playing time. That led him to make the move to Serie A side Como.
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Unfortunately, his time at Como was cut short when he suffered a knee injury during his debut in the Coppa Italia in August. With a long recovery ahead, Varane made the tough decision to retire, admitting that he knew right away it was the right call.
“I was searching for something special, and that’s how I found Como,” he said. “It wasn’t an exotic or financially-driven move, but it made sense on a human level. I wanted to play just once a week, but after getting injured on August 11, I immediately knew it was over. I had prepared myself for it.”
Though Varane won’t be playing for Como again, he announced last month that he will remain with the club in a different capacity.
His statement read: “A new chapter begins off the pitch. I will continue with Como, just without the boots and shin pads. I’m excited to share more about it soon.”
While Varane hasn’t yet revealed his exact role, it’s possible he’ll work alongside former Arsenal and Chelsea star Cesc Fabregas, who is currently managing the club. Como, who were promoted to Serie A last season, are currently sitting 14th in the table with eight points from their first seven matches.
