Ex-Man Utd player retires surprisingly after only 23 mins with new team.

After a glittering career, Raphael Varane has decided to retire from football at the age of 31 due to a recent injury. The former Real Madrid, Manchester United, and France star leaves the game as one of the most decorated players of his generation. With four Champions League titles and three La Liga titles under his belt, Varane's crowning achievement came in 2018 when he helped France win the World Cup.

Varane's short stint at United in 2021 saw him help the team end their trophy drought with Carabao Cup and FA Cup success. In his last game for the club, he delivered a superb performance in the FA Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley. However, his contract at Old Trafford expired in July and he joined Italian side Como, where he was reunited with former teammate and Arsenal legend Cesc Fabregas.

Unfortunately, Varane's time at Como was cut short when he suffered an injury just 23 minutes into his debut in the Coppa Italia clash against Sampdoria. He has not played since and was not included in the club's official squad list. In an emotional statement released on Wednesday morning, Varane expressed his gratitude to fans and announced his retirement from playing. He also revealed that he will now take up a non-playing role at Como as he explores his next steps in the sport.

Throughout his career, Varane has had to overcome numerous injuries, with his most recent one ultimately leading to his retirement. In the 2021-22 season alone, he missed 19 games due to injury. Despite these setbacks, he leaves the game with no regrets and an impressive list of accomplishments. From Lens to Madrid to Manchester, and playing for his national team, Varane has always given his all for every team he played for, defending their badge with pride and determination.

As he bids farewell to the game, Varane reflects on the thrills and challenges of playing at the highest level. He acknowledges that as athletes, they are never satisfied and always driven to push themselves further. But he also expresses his pride in sticking to his principles of sincerity and leaving every place better than he found it. Now, he looks forward to a new chapter off the pitch, remaining with Como but without his boots and shin pads.

To all the supporters, teammates, coaches, and staff that have been a part of his journey, Varane expresses his heartfelt gratitude. He thanks them for making his football career more special than he could have ever imagined. And as he signs off, he leaves one final message: "Thank you, football."

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