Raphael Varane has retired from football after suffering a knee injury on his debut for Italian club Como.

The 31-year-old centre-back joined the Serie A club this summer after leaving Manchester United on a free transfer. He played just 20 minutes for the club in a Coppa Italia match before being substituted.

The former France international, who was a regular in the 2018 World Cup-winning team, left United this summer at the end of his contract having made 95 appearances for the club in three seasons.

Varane, best known for his spell at Real Madrid where he played 360 games in 10 seasons, has signed a two-year contract with Como, with an option for a further season.

Varane won the FA Cup with Manchester United in his final game for the club (Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)

The successful central defender moved from Madrid to United in the summer of 2021 and helped the club win the Carabao Cup in the 2022-23 season and the FA Cup the following year.

In a statement on social media, Varane said that “all good things must come to an end” and stressed that he had “no regrets” about his career.

The defender said his achievements and memories gave him “immense pride and a sense of achievement” and he wanted to “start strongly”, with his penultimate game and final full appearance coming in United’s successful FA Cup final win in May.

He began his career at his hometown club Lens in France and moved to Madrid in 2011, where he won 18 trophies, including three La Liga titles and four Champions League titles.

Varane also enjoyed an impressive international career, winning the 2018 World Cup with France and the Nations League three years later. In total, he made 93 appearances for his country.

In August 2023, Varane said football was becoming “dangerous” due to the increased number of players on the programme.

“The managers and players have expressed our concerns for many years that there are too many games, the fixture list is overcrowded and it is at a dangerous level for the physical and mental well-being of the players,” he said.

Varane won the 2018 World Cup with France (FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)

“Despite our previous feedback, they have now recommended for next season: longer matches, more intensity and less emotions from players. We just want to be on the pitch in good shape to give 100% to our club and fans. Why are our opinions not heard?”

In April this year, Varane openly said he had suffered concussions during several football matches and that his body had been ‘damaged’ by heading during matches.

The defender said the lack of understanding surrounding head injuries has proven damaging to him and other footballers, while calling for the use of heading in training to be restricted.

In one example, the former France international revealed he suffered a concussion during the 2014 World Cup last 16 match against Nigeria after the football struck his temple, claiming he played the rest of the match on autopilot.

Varane described a similar incident six years later, when he was substituted for Real Madrid in a La Liga match against Getafe after taking a ball to the head. He was extremely tired for days afterwards.

(Top image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)