Raphael Varane, the French defender and 2018 World Cup champion, announced his retirement from professional football on Wednesday at the age of 31.
Varane, formerly of Real Madrid and Manchester United, has recently faced a knee injury following his transfer to newly promoted Italian Serie A club Como, which sidelined him from the team’s official roster.
In a heartfelt post on Instagram, Varane reflected on his career: “I have fallen and risen a thousand times, and this time, it is time to stop and retire from the game after my last match which ended with a cup victory at Wembley.” He referred to his triumph in the FA Cup with United against Manchester City.
Varane, who started his professional journey with the Lens reserve team before moving to the main squad in the 2010-2011 season, expressed his desire to leave the sport while still strong, not merely clinging to it.
“It takes a great deal of courage to listen to your heart and instincts. Desire and need are two different things,” he said.
The player reminisced about his dedication to the teams he has played for: “I loved fighting for myself, for the clubs I played for, my country, my teammates, and the fans of each team I played for. From Lens to Madrid to Manchester, and playing for our national team,” adding, “I defended every badge with everything I had and loved every minute of the journey.”
Varane hinted at his future involvement with Como in a non-playing capacity: “I will remain with Como, but without using my feet and shin guards. Something I look forward to sharing with you soon.”
Varane’s retirement comes after he suffered an injury just twenty minutes into his first official match for Como in the Coppa Italia, after joining the club last summer on a free transfer. Since then, he has not appeared in the league.
