Retired Raphael Varane left Real Madrid for Man Utd to seek a new challenge

Varane, who joined Como on a free transfer in July 2024, was forced off in his first appearance against Sampdoria. The injury ultimately led him to step away from playing, though he has remained at the club in a non-playing role.

The Frenchman's decision to retire marks the end of a decorated career that saw him win 18 trophies in a decade at Real Madrid, including four Champions League titles.

After winning everything in Spain, he sought a new challenge and joined Manchester United in 2021. While he never reached his peak form at Old Trafford, he played a crucial role in their FA Cup and Carabao Cup triumphs.

United's interest in Varane dated back to 2011 when Sir Alex Ferguson tried to sign him from Lens before he opted for Real Madrid. A decade later, the club finally secured his services after rekindling their pursuit.

"It was actually a long process," Varane told French-speaking podcast The Bridge.

"It's not like you wake up in the morning and say I want to leave.

"In 2018, I won everything; in fact, we celebrated our fourth Champions League title quickly. It was like a normal thing, the next step is to win the Champions League and think about the next one.

"Then I won the World Cup and I said to myself, I've done it all. There came a point in my life where I restricted myself, reviewed some things regarding my career management, and said to myself, I need to keep feeling emotions, I need something different." 

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