- Raphael Varane left Manchester United this summer after three years at the club
- He has now opened up about his departure and subsequent retirement from football
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Former Manchester United defender Raphael Varane has opened up about his summer departure from Old Trafford.
Varane ended his three-year spell at United when his contract expired in June, leaving the club for free.
The Frenchman, who joined the Red Devils from Real Madrid in 2021 for €42 million, has admitted he would have liked to stay for a longer period but realized in the final months of last season that it was time to move on.
‘At the start of my last season at Manchester United I already told myself that I would have liked to end there, to extend the adventure’ [there] a little further,” Varane said L’Equipe. ‘It didn’t happen and the summer was very eventful.
‘With United I ended up winning the FA Cup, but I already knew that the club project did not suit me.’
Raphael Varane has spoken out about the reasons behind his departure from Manchester United
Varane won the FA Cup in his last match with United, but had already decided that the club’s project ‘didn’t suit me’
Varane produced a standout performance in United’s shock FA Cup final win over bitter rivals Manchester City at Wembley as he returned from injury to thwart Pep Guardiola’s men.
But after a number of fitness setbacks in recent years, and having previously scored in the packed football calendar, Varane explained that he wanted to reduce his playing time and that led him to leave United and join Serie A side Como close.
However, his time at the Italian club was cut short when he suffered a knee injury on his Coppa Italia debut in August.
With a long spell on the sidelines ahead, Varane opted to retire and revealed he knew straight away it was time to hang up his boots.
“I was looking for something special, and that’s how I found Como,” he added.
‘Como was a project that stood out, it was neither exotic nor financial [rewarding] but humanly speaking it made sense, and still does, as I stay by their side.
‘I only wanted to play once a week. After pre-season the family was going to follow me to Italy, but when I got injured on August 11, I immediately knew it was over. I was confident because I expected it.”
Varane will no longer be seen on the field at Como, but announced last month that he would stay with the club.
Varane joined Como this summer but quit after picking up an injury on his debut
Varane remains at Como and could now work closely with manager Cesc Fabregas
A statement read: “And so begins a new life off the field. I’ll stay at Como.
‘Just without using my boots and shin guards. Something I would like to share more about soon.’
Varane has not specified exactly what his new role is, but he could be working alongside former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who manages the club.
Como were promoted to Serie A last season and are fourteenth in the table, after gaining eight points from their first seven games.
