Varane admits he nearly retired earlier, with critical remarks about Man United

Recently retired French defender Raphaël Varane revealed he was close to ending his career sooner. Alongside this admission, the World Cup champion had some less-than-flattering comments about his time at Manchester United.

Details: In a recent interview, Varane reflected on his time with Manchester United, admitting he almost retired as early as the summer of 2023. Leaving the “Red Devils,” he realized the club’s direction did not align with his vision.

Quote: “At the beginning of my last season at Manchester United, I was already telling myself that I wanted to complete the season and extend my journey a bit longer. That didn’t happen, and it was a very eventful summer. I was looking for something meaningful, and that’s how I found Como.

With United, I ended my career with an FA Cup win, but I already knew the club’s project wasn’t for me. Como’s project was unique — it wasn’t exotic or financially driven, but from a human perspective, it made sense and still does, as I plan to stay involved with the club,” Varane told L'Equipe.

Reminder: Varane’s last club appearance was indeed with Como, where he played just 20 minutes in a cup match against Sampdoria.