Former France international centre-back Raphaël Varane (29) recently gave a wide-ranging interview to GQ France. The Manchester United defender announced, to everyone’s surprise, he was hanging his international boots in the aftermath of France’s loss against Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final.
The Lille-born 4-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid (2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018) joined Manchester United after a 10-year stay in the Spanish capital, and he revealed the biggest difference between playing for Los Blancos and playing for the Red Devils. “The level of competitiveness in England is incredible. We played the fifth-placed LaLiga team (Real Betis) and the bottom-placed Premier League side (Southampton) in the same week and, frankly, it’s hard to know which game was the most difficult.”
Varane assessed that each win with Real Madrid was deemed normal business, whilst a loss means a crisis. “In England, each win brings great satisfaction because the energy expenditure is enormous. It’s another kind of football and it reignited my passion and my desire to win every game.” The former Lens youth product says that his performance level this season with a competitive again Manchester United side is down to the fact he had a complete and injury-free pre-season. When asked whether he could envision himself finish his career as a Red Devil, Varane replied it was “a serious option”.
Furthermore, the former France international says he would not play for a fourth team in his trophy-laden career. “I will finish my career either in Madrid, or in Manchester, or in Lens. It is sure that I will not join another club. Madrid seems complicated to me, this is not usually a club you can return to. The most likely today is that I finish at Manchester or Lens.”
GFFN | Bastien Cheval
