Raphael Varane says he knew his career as a professional football player was over when he suffered a knee injury in Como’s Coppa Italia first-round clash with Sampdoria, Afrosport reports.
The 31-year-old Frenchman joined the newly-promoted Serie A outfit after his contract at Manchester United had expired but only 23 competitive minutes for Cesc Fabregas’ side on August 11.
Como axed him out of their Serie A squad for the season and he called time on his illustrious career.
“I had hoped to continue playing, but when I got the first injury on August 11, I realised it was over,” Varane told L’Equipe.
“I knew it, this was not a serious problem, but the fact it was in my left knee was a sign. My left knee had to compensate the right since 2013 and it was thanks to that I managed to find some balance in my lack of balance.
“So, if the left knee tells you it is fed up of carrying the load, you have to listen to it. That injury sent me back into a spiral, but this time the balance between sacrifice and pleasure was missing.”
Regardless of not being an active player anymore, Varane still wants to be part of the ongoing project at Como.
“My future will be in Como. I still have a lot to give to football. I am seeking creativity and freedom, not robotic and always balanced movements,” he added.
Varane went on to blame the congested fixture schedule causing fatigue for players and ultimately unwanted injuries. He also stated that he found the project at Como more enticing than at Manchester United.
“Perhaps we cannot change the world, but we’ve got to do things differently from the way they are done now. Things are getting out of control here and the situation could explode. I’m talking about the mental health of players too, not just physical,” he explained.
“There are fewer and fewer creative players, it’s all about physicality now. Football should be a game based on errors, but there are few now because everything is so robotic.
“The coach who leaves you the most freedom to move and create is Carlo Ancelotti, not like the new generations of coaches. At the start of my last season at Manchester United, I said that I’d like to end my career there and continue that adventure. That didn’t happen and the summer was very eventful.
“I was looking for something special and I found it in Como. I closed my experience at Manchester United with a cup victory, but I already knew the club’s project was not for me. Como was not an economic draw, nor really an exotic one, but on a human level it all made sense.”
Varane played 480 times during his club career, scoring 21 goals and providing eight assists. He won 20 titles in spells with Real Madrid and Manchester United.
He was capped 93 times for France and won the 2018 FIFA World Cup and 2021 UEFA Nations League.
