Raphael Varane has admitted that the project at Manchester United “didn’t suit” him, although he would have been happy to extend his contract in order to end 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 hyped arrival in 2021.

The Frenchman, who was among the best centre-backs in the world at his peak with Real Madrid, joined ambitious Serie A club Como due to the project on offer there, but retired shortly after suffering a knee injury on his debut in August.

Varane’s explanation as to why he chose Como, motivated by playing only once a week at this stage of his career and with his injury history, appears to show why he felt no longer suited to United, where the physical demands from a packed schedule were much higher.

“At the start of my last season at Manchester United, I was already telling myself that I would have liked to finish there, to extend the adventure a little,” Varane told L’Equipe.

“It didn’t happen, and the summer was very eventful. I was looking for something special, and that’s how I found Como,” he added.

“With Manchester United, I finished with a victory in the [FA] Cup, but I already knew that the club’s project didn’t suit me. Como was a project that stood out, it wasn’t exotic, not financial, but humanly it made sense, and it still does, since I’m going to stay by their side.

“I also wanted to play only once a week. After the preparation, the family was supposed to follow to Italy, but when I got injured, I knew right away that it was over.”

Varane suffered a knee sprain in a Coppa Italia tie against Sampdoria. It wasn’t a serious problem by 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 become 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 it that I found balance in the imbalance. So, if my left knee tells me it’s had enough, I have to listen to it. Since the age of 20, I’ve played with a sword of Damocles hanging over my right knee. Managing pressure, knowing my body, knowing when to push the machine, I’ve mastered it perfectly.

“But over the last three years, I’ve only injured my left knee. The right knee had become strong, but less mobile, and the left knee did everything, for power, starts, impulses. Physically, this injury made me go back into a spiral, and the balance between sacrifices and pleasure was no longer balanced. I am passionate, obsessed with performance and if I can’t commit 100%, it doesn’t suit me.”

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