Varane ‘knew’ career was over at Como, Manchester United ‘not for me’ | OneFootball

Raphael Varane reveals the moment he ‘knew’ that his playing career was over at Como, why the Manchester United ‘project was not for me’ and his plans for the future in Serie A.

The 31-year-old surprised many when deciding to join newly-promoted Como as a free agent over the summer, after long experiences at Real Madrid and Manchester United.

However, he made only one competitive appearance, for 23 minutes in the Coppa Italia defeat on penalties to Sampdoria on August 11, and sustained a serious knee injury.

When Como cut him out of the squad, the player decided to simply hang up his boots.

“I had hoped to continue playing, but when I got the first injury on July 11, I realised it was over,” Varane told L’Equipe newspaper in France.

“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.”

End of the road for Varane

Como announce signing of Raphael Varane on free transfer.

Varane decided to retire from his playing career, but insists he wants to be part of the Como project with coach Cesc Fabregas.

“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.”

The word ‘robotic’ cropped up again during the interview, when Varane was talking about the growing number of injuries sustained – particularly knee ligament ones, which used to be quite rare – by players in modern football.

He pins the blame squarely on the bloated competitions and extra fixtures that are putting excessive pressure on players.

“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.

“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.”

When it comes to tactics, there is an Italian coach who Varane singles out for praise at Real Madrid.

“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.”