Raphael Varane has opened up about his time at Manchester United, stating that the project at the club didn’t suit him. Despite this, he expressed his willingness to extend his contract and finish his career at Old Trafford. Varane left United as a free agent after three seasons plagued by injuries following his highly anticipated arrival in 2021.
The French defender, who was once considered one of the best center-backs in the world during his time with Real Madrid, joined Serie A club Como due to their appealing project. However, shortly after making his debut in August, Varane suffered a knee injury and subsequently retired from football.
Varane’s decision to join Como was motivated by wanting to play only once a week at this stage of his career and considering his injury history. This sheds light on why he felt that United’s demanding schedule didn’t suit him anymore.
“At the start of my last season at Manchester United, I was already telling myself that I would have liked to finish there, to extend the adventure a little,” Varane revealed in an interview with L’Equipe. ”It didn’t happen, and the summer was very eventful. I was looking for something special, and that’s how I found Como.”
He further explained that while Manchester United provided him with a victorious end in the FA Cup, he knew deep down that their project wasn’t suitable for him. In contrast, Como stood out as a project that made sense on a human level.
Varane’s retirement came after sustaining a knee sprain during a Coppa Italia match against Sampdoria. Although it wasn’t initially considered serious and would have resulted in only a few weeks’ absence from playing, Varane took it as an indication to retire due to ongoing issues with both knees since 2013.
“The left knee has been compensating for the right knee since 2013,” Varane stated. “If my left knee tells me it’s had enough… Since age 20… Managing pressure… Knowing my body… Knowing when to push… I’ve mastered it perfectly.”
However, over the past three years, most of Varane’s injuries were concentrated on his left knee rather than his previously problematic right knee. This imbalance affected both performance and enjoyment of playing football for him.
In conclusion: Raphael Varane has spoken candidly about why he felt Manchester United’s project didn’t suit him while expressing gratitude for finishing with them on a high note before joining Como. His retirement following an injury on debut highlights ongoing issues with both knees throughout recent years.