Raphael Varane Hangs Up His Boots at 31 After Glittering Career

Former Real Madrid and Manchester United defender, Raphael Varane, has announced his retirement from football at the age of 31. The French international, who also played for the French national team, leaves behind a legacy filled with numerous accolades and memorable moments.

Varane's career began at French club Lens before he moved to Real Madrid in 2011. During his decade-long tenure in Madrid, he won an impressive 18 trophies, including three La Liga titles and four Champions League titles. Reflecting on his time at Real Madrid, Varane said, "I have won more than I could have even dreamed of."

In 2021, Varane transferred to Manchester United for an initial fee of £34 million. Despite struggling with injuries, he made 95 appearances for the club and won the Carabao Cup in 2022. His final game for Manchester United was a victorious FA Cup final against their rivals, Manchester City, in May 2024.

Internationally, Varane earned 93 caps for France, winning the World Cup in 2018 and the Nations League in 2021. He also reached the World Cup final again in 2022. "I have fallen and risen a thousand times, and this time, it's the moment to stop and hang my boots up with my final game winning a trophy at Wembley," Varane stated.

Recently, Varane joined Italian side Como but suffered a knee injury on his debut. He will remain with the club in a non-playing role. On his future, Varane mentioned, "A new life begins off the pitch. I will remain with Como. Just without using my boots and shin pads."

Varane has been vocal about the health impacts of heading the ball, advocating for greater protection and awareness. In April, he revealed that he had "damaged his body" due to the continuous impact of heading the ball and once finished a World Cup game on "autopilot" after suffering a concussion.