Raphael Varane: Manchester United Defender Names Two Other Clubs He Could Finish His Career

Raphael Varane: Manchester United Defender Names Two Other Clubs He Could Finish His Career

Elijah Odetokun
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:29 PM
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  • Raphael Varane announced his international retirement after losing the World Cup final with France
  • The 29-year-old admits he is already thinking about hanging his football boots finally
  • He revealed the two clubs he could finish his career in other than Manchester United

Raphael Varane shocked everyone when he announced his international retirement after helping France to consecutive World Cup finals in Qatar, which they lost to Argentina on penalties.

The former Real Madrid star was tipped to be the next captain of Les Bleus after the retirement of long-serving captain and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, but he followed suit, making Didier Deschamps select Kylian Mbappe as the skipper.

He claimed he wanted to focus on his family and club career, having joined Manchester United in 2021, leaving Real Madrid after 10 successful years, in which he won four UEFA Champions League trophies.

Raphael Varane, Manchester United, Southampton.
Raphael Varane in action for Manchester United against Southampton. Photo by Catherine Ivill.
Source: Getty Images

As reported by Metro UK, the imposing defender admitted he already had full retirement on his mind when he hung up his boots for the national team.

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Varane hints where he could retire

Varane is in his second season in the Premier League and is already loving life in Manchester and claimed he could retire in England or at two of his previous clubs.

‘‘I will finish my career either in Madrid, or in Manchester, or in Lens. I will not move to another club [other than those],’’ he told GQ Magazine.
‘‘But Madrid seems complicated to me. Players don’t usually go back there. The most likely outcome today is that I will finish [my club career] in either Manchester or Lens.’’

He grew through the ranks of Lens academy in France and played just one year for the senior team before Real Madrid came calling. ESPN reported that the young Varane told Zinedine Zidane to call him back as he was preparing for an exam.

Varane shows leadership skills

Raphael Varane is already showing his leadership skills in the Manchester United dressing room. As Sports Brief reported, he ordered his teammates to applaud the travelling fans after their 7-0 loss to Liverpool.

The Red Devils were embarrassed by their fiercest rivals at Anfield, and the players were making their way into the dressing room, but the experienced defender quickly stopped them in their tracks.

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Elijah Odetokun photo
Elijah Odetokun
Elijah Odetokun is Reuters-trained journalist with three years of experience having previously worked at Daily Times Nigeria, OmaSports and El Futbolero.