The retirement of Raphaël Varane at just 31 years old, this Wednesday, September 25, inevitably reflects the increasingly strong revolt that is shaking the world of football in the face of the infernal pace imposed on players. “I want to come out strong, not just hang on to the game […] Want and need are two different things. I have fallen and bounced a thousand times, and this time it is time to stop.”the player explains in his farewell post on Instagramhe who has so often been mistreated by his body and therefore decided to stop the costs at the beginning of his thirties, a rarity among very high level players.
Since his teenage years, Varane has been confronted with serious knee problems. It was this joint that sidelined him again with Como this summer, his last challenge. The injury was one too many for the man whose spells in the infirmary have been legion throughout his fourteen-year career, from RC Lens to Manchester United, and of course Real Madrid, the club of all his successes between 2011 and 2021.
27 injuries during his career
No fewer than 27 injuries have hampered the career of the 2018 world champion, depriving him of nearly 150 matches. The foot, calf, thigh, knee, Achilles tendon, groin… every area of his body has been put to the test by the accumulation of matches and the little rest time granted to his fragile physique. Before Euro 2016 in France, it was his thigh that gave up on him and it was again the latter that almost made him miss the 2022 World Cup before Didier Deschamps finally decided to give a chance to the man who wore the armband 21 times during his 93 selections.
“International players, it’s simple, they play all the time, he lamented toWest France before Euro 2021. We are also human beings. I believe that a report from FIFPRO (world players’ union) says that the minimum for recovery is to play every five days. We play every three days, sometimes at 10 p.m. and then at noon. In the short term, we can keep our heads down, but in the long term, it’s just impossible.”he breathed.
Like what Rodri, the Manchester City midfielder who has since suffered a torn cruciate ligament, said, Varane did not hesitate to charge the football calendar and authorities. “Calendars are saturated. Enough is enough. It’s not that we’re lazy, it’s not our mentality, it’s just a need to cut back sometimes!” […] What is the point, playing every day?he wondered, tired of the fact that players were neither heard nor even consulted while high paces or overtraining resulted in sleep disorders or loss of appetite.
“Sometimes the man gets eaten by the player”
Beyond the physical aspect, the mental wear and tear of footballers has also been one of his hobby horses, he who despite his reserved character at first has gradually learned to raise his voice to get his messages across. Discreet, Varane has had a hard time coping with fame. “Sometimes, the man gets “eaten” by the player. Everywhere I go, I’m not Raphael, but I’m Varane. People ask me out and call out to me because I’m Varane, when I just want to be Raphael and live normally, he spoke to us in 2019. We are just human beings. Psychologically, we can’t be in intensity all the time.”
The player then explained the need to spend a lot of time with his family, once he reached saturation point, in order to live the life of an ordinary man. It was also the need to enjoy his loved ones more that pushed Varane to retire from the French team after the 2022 World Cup, at only 29 years old. A FIFPRO study, carried out among 1,500 players, reveals in this regard that some international players spend 88% of their time in the work environment, namely matches, training, travel, care, etc.
Last April, the defender also spoke about the danger of concussions to The team in a rare testimony for a player still active. He then explained that he had been the victim of concussion several times without the care having been optimal. “Recognizing a concussion and treating it properly is a real challenge. It’s a real health issue, it can even be vital.” And to extend his speech towards the new generations: “My 7-year-old son plays football, and I advise him not to head the ball. For me, that’s essential.”
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Now retired from the field, Varane will have time to take care of himself properly in order to live his second life in good health. The elegant defender will have left his mark on French football. For the moment, he has indicated that he will stay in Como “without using his cleats and shin guards” and look forward to sharing more information about its upcoming projects soon.
