Raphael Varane is reportedly considering retiring from professional football following a serious injury sustained in his brief stint with Como. At 31 years old, the French defender is expected to make a formal decision soon, as he prepares to terminate his contract with the Italian club. Varane, who joined Como in the summer, featured only once, in a Coppa Italia match against Sampdoria, where he was forced off the field after just 23 minutes due to the injury.
🚨🚨| BREAKING: Raphael Varane is considering RETIREMENT from professional football after his recent serious injury.
[@FabrizioRomano] pic.twitter.com/W8g6WeAG5r
— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) September 24, 2024
Varane’s illustrious career began at Lens, before his talent was quickly recognized by Real Madrid, who signed him as a teenager. During his ten years at the Santiago Bernabeu, Varane made 360 appearances for the club, winning every possible trophy at the club level, including four Champions League titles. He became one of the most respected defenders in the world, contributing to Madrid’s dominance both domestically and in Europe.
In 2021, Varane made the move to Manchester United, where he added two domestic cups to his trophy cabinet over three seasons before leaving on a free transfer to join newly-promoted Serie A side Como. However, his time in Italy has been short-lived due to his injury setback.
On the international stage, Varane’s crowning achievement came in 2018 when he helped France win the World Cup. Over the course of his international career, Varane earned 93 caps and scored five goals for his country, solidifying his status as one of the top defenders of his generation.