Raphael Varane has admitted that the Manchester United project is “not going well” for him, although he would have been happy to extend his contract to finish his career at Old Trafford.
Varane was released as a free agent at the end of last season, having struggled with injuries during his three seasons in Manchester following a touted arrival in 2021.
The Frenchman, who was among the world’s best centre-backs in his prime with Real Madrid, joined ambitious Serie A club Como because of the project on offer. but he withdrew shortly after suffering a knee injury on his debut in August.
Varane’s explanation of why he chose Como, motivated by playing just once a week at this stage of his career and with his injury history, appears to show why he no longer felt fit for United, where the physical demands of a busy schedule were very important. higher
“At the start of my last season at Manchester United, I was already saying to myself that I would have liked to finish there, extend the adventure a bit,” said Varane. the team.
“It didn’t happen, and the summer was very intense. I was looking for something special, and that’s how I found Como,” he added.
“With Manchester UnitedI ended up winning the (FA) Cup, but I already knew that the club project was not going well for me. As it was a project that stood out, it wasn’t exotic, it wasn’t cheap, but humanly it made sense, and it still does, as I will stand by it.
“I also wanted to play just once a week. After the preparation, the family had to go to Italy, but when I got injured I knew straight away that it was over.”
Varane sprained his knee in a Coppa Italia tie against Sampdoria. It wasn’t a serious problem in itself, perhaps meaning an absence of a few weeks, but the 31-year-old took it as a sign. It was his left knee, which had been a problem since 2021, after previously struggling with his right.
“The left knee has been compensating for the right knee since 2013,” Varane said. “It’s through this that I found balance in imbalance. So if my left knee tells me it’s had enough, I have to listen. Since I was 20, I’ve played with a sword of Damocles hanging over my right knee is able to handle the pressure, know my body, know when to push the machine, I’ve mastered it perfectly.
“But for the last three years, I’ve only injured my left knee. The right knee had gotten stronger, but less mobile, and the left knee did everything, for power, starts, drives. Physically, this injury it set me back. in a spiral, and the balance between sacrifices and pleasure was no longer balanced, I’m passionate, obsessed with performance and if I can’t commit 100%, it’s not for me.”