Former international defender Raphaël Varane, 2018 world champion with the French team, announced his retirement from sport on Wednesday at the age of 31 in a message on his Instagram account.
2 min
” I’ve fallen and gotten back up a thousand times, and this time it’s time to call it a day and hang up my boots after my last game where I won a trophy at Wembley ” he explained, referring to his FA Cup victory with Manchester United in the spring, before his transfer this summer to Como, with whom he only played one match.
On 11 August, Varane was injured after 20 minutes of play in his first official match with Como, in the Coppa Italia, lost to Sampdoria. He had not appeared in the Italian Championship since, his name not appearing among the players of the promoted Serie A team registered to play in the championship. The Italian press then reported that Como was going to terminate his two-year contract signed at the end of July, with an option for an additional year.
“No regrets”
In his message on social networks, Varane nevertheless suggests that he will stay in Italy, despite his retirement as a player. A new life begins off the field “, he explains. I will stay in Como. But without using my crampons and shin guards. I look forward to sharing it with you soon “.
After Ligue 1 (Lens), which he left at 18, La Liga (Real Madrid), where he built up one of the finest records in French football (4 Champions Leagues and 3 Ligas) and the Premier League (Manchester United) where he added a League Cup (2023) and an FA Cup (2024) to his collection of trophies, although he had physical problems last season, Raphaël Varane was hoping to discover a fourth championship at 31.
” I have no regrets, I wouldn’t change anything. “, Varane said again in reference to his frequent positions on the infernal pace of the calendar imposed on the players.
Varane had already retired from international football two years ago. He has 93 caps for the French national team. With Les Bleus, he won the World Cup 2018 and the 2021 Nations League and has achieved in the 2022 World Cup final.