Raphael Varane reveals shocking details from his time at Manchester United

Varane's reflections once again raise concerns about the overloaded schedule that is draining both the physical and mental strength of modern players.

Raphael Varane, former central defender for Manchester United and the French national team, recently opened up about the toughest period of his career, when he was forced to return to play just 9 days after a heartbreaking defeat in the final of the 2022 World Cup.

The historic final in Qatar 2022 was one of the most dramatic matches in World Cup history. Varane played for 113 minutes before being substituted and witnessed Argentina defeat France in an emotional penalty shootout. For a player who had fully dedicated himself to his national team, losing the golden trophy was an unforgettable shock.

However, Varane had no chance to overcome that sadness. Less than 10 days later, he had to wear the Manchester United jersey to compete in the English Premier League. The defender, born in 1993, admitted that he did not even have a single moment to calm down or recover. Continuously playing while mentally devastated left him exhausted both physically and psychologically.

According to Varane, modern football is entering a state of overload. New competitions keep emerging, seasons are getting longer, and rest periods are almost eliminated. This forces players to perform at extremely high levels, almost like machines. As a result, injury rates are rising, and players’ mental health is severely affected.

After the 2023–24 season, Varane left Manchester United and transferred to Como in Serie A. However, misfortune continued to follow him. A serious knee injury in the Coppa Italia forced the French defender to retire earlier than expected. Varane revealed that the intense schedule not only drained him but also contributed to his decision to retire from international football in 2023 at just 29 years old.

Varane’s story is not uncommon in modern football. As profits and match frequency increase, the price is often paid on the players’ bodies. Varane’s emotional revelations continue to raise a major question for organizers: Is football losing its beautiful essence due to overwhelming commercial ambitions?

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