Raphael Varane, the former Manchester United, Real Madrid, and France defender, has announced his retirement from football at the age of 31 due to a knee injury.
The centre-back enjoyed a storied 10-year career at Real Madrid, winning 18 trophies, including 3 La Liga titles and 4 Champions Leagues trophies.
Varane joined Manchester United in 2021 for £34m, making 95 appearances and winning the Carabao Cup in 2022 and the FA Cup in 2023.
He earned 93 caps for France, winning the World Cup (2018) and the Nations League (2021).
Varane shared his decision on Instagram: “I hold myself to the highest standard… I want to go out strong, not just holding on to the game.” He expressed pride in his achievements, stating: “I have won more than I could have even dreamed of… I have stuck to my principles of being sincere.”
Despite retiring as a player, Varane will remain at Italian side Como in a non-playing role.
