Varane played for French clubLens at youth level and, ahead of the2010–11 season, began training with the senior team and appeared on the bench in several league matches. Varane made his professional debut in 2010 aged 17,[4] and after one season as a professional footballer, he joinedReal Madrid. There, over the course of ten seasons from 2011 to 2021, he won eighteen trophies, including threeLa Liga titles, oneCopa del Rey, fourUEFA Champions League titles and fourFIFA Club World Cups.[5] In 2021, Varane left Real Madrid to sign forManchester United, where he won theEFL Cup andFA Cup during a three-year spell. He departed England in 2024, joining newly-promotedSerie A sideComo as a free agent, but after just playing 23 minutes for the club, picked up a knee injury and was removed from the squad list, before subsequently announcing his retirement from professional football in September 2024.
Varane represented France atunder-18,under-20 andunder-21 level, before making hissenior international debut in March 2013. He was part of France'sFIFA World Cup squad in2014, when he was nominated for theBest Young Player award,[6] in2018, when he played every minute as France went on to win the competition, and in2022, when France finished as runners-up. He additionally appeared atUEFA Euro 2020, and was part of the France squad that won theUEFA Nations League in2021. Varane announced his retirement from international football in 2023, having earned 93 caps and scored five goals.
Varane began his football career in theArrondissement of Lille playing for local club Hellemmes at the age of seven.[8] After spending two years at the club, in July 2002, he joined professional clubLens, despite some interest fromDerby du Nord rivals and hometown clubLille.[9] Similar to the development of the club's previous prized assets such asGaël Kakuta andTimothée Kolodziejczak, Varane spent time at the Centre de Préformation de Football in nearbyLiévin, a training centre exclusively for players brought up in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region.[7] He spent two years at the centre training there during the weekdays and playing with Lens on the weekends.[citation needed]
After returning full-time to Lens, Varane quickly ascended up the club's youth ranks. In the 2008–09 season, alongside teammatesThorgan Hazard andGeoffrey Kondogbia, he played on the club's under-16 team that won theChampionnat National des 16 ans. In the following season, Varane was promoted to the club's under-19 team, despite being two years younger than several of his teammates. Ahead of the2010–11 season, Varane signed his first professional contract.[10] He was, subsequently, promoted to the club's reserve team in theChampionnat de France amateur.[11] Varane made his amateur debut in the club's opening league match of the campaign in a 2–0 victory overDrancy.[12] He appeared as a starter in the club's next nine matches with the team losing only one of them.[citation needed]
In late October of the campaign, Varane was called up to the senior team by managerJean-Guy Wallemme to train ahead of the club's match againstMontpellier on 6 November. He trained with the team for the entire week and, due to an injury tocentre-backAlaeddine Yahia, Varane was, surprisingly, named to the starting line-up.[13] In the match, he played the full 90 minutes in a 2–0 victory.[4] The victory was only the club's thirdclean sheet of the season. Varane was praised by teammates, most notablycaptainAdil Hermach, defensive partnerÉric Chelle, andstrikerDavid Pollet, as well as by the local media and coach Wallemme.[14][15] In the next two matches, Varane, alongside several other youth players, sat on the bench as Lens faced two tough teams inMarseille andLyon.[16][17] He returned to the starting line-up on 30 November in a 4–1 defeat toBrest.[18] Despite the firing of Wallemme following the Brest match, Varane remained a starter in the team under new managerLászló Bölöni. In December, with both Chelle and Yahia returning to action, Varane was placed in the defensive midfielder role in the team's match againstBordeaux. In the match, he acted as a roving third centre-back and made a blocked save in the 84th minute on a close range shot byYoan Gouffran to preserve a 2–1 lead.[19] However, in the latter stages of the match, Bordeaux equalized to draw the match at 2–2.[20]
In early 2011, Varane was the subject of transfer speculation linking him to several clubs.[21] In an effort to quell the interest, on 3 February 2011, he signed a two-year contract extension with Lens until 2015.[22][23][24] On 8 May, Varane scored his first professional goal in a 1–1 draw withCaen.[25] In the team's following match againstMonaco, he scored the equalizing goal in another 1–1 draw.[26] Despite the goal, the stalemate condemned Lens to relegation back to Ligue 2 after two seasons in the top division.[27] On 21 May, Varane captained Lens in its 1–0 defeat toArles-Avignon.[28]
On 22 June 2011, Lens presidentGervais Martel confirmed to a group of supporters at a club meeting that Varane would be joiningLa Liga clubReal Madrid.[29][30] Varane had previously visited Real Madrid's club facilities and also met with club advisor and compatriotZinedine Zidane.[29][31] On 27 June, the move was confirmed by Real Madrid after Varane passed his medical. Varane signed a six-year contract with the club.[32]
Varane was assigned the number 19 shirt and made his club debut for Real Madrid in the club's opening pre-season fixture against American outfitLos Angeles Galaxy in the2011 World Football Challenge. He appeared as a half-time substitute as Real Madrid cruised to a 4–1 win.[33] Varane made his first start for the club four days later in a 3–0 win over Mexican clubGuadalajara. He finished the pre-season campaign appearing in seven of the eight pre-season matches Real Madrid contested.[citation needed]
Varane made his competitive debut for Real Madrid on 21 September in the team's league match againstRacing Santander. He started the match at centre-back alongsideRicardo Carvalho as the match ended 0–0.[34] In the team's next league match three days later againstRayo Vallecano, Varane started and scored his first goal for the club after a flying back-heel shot following aMesut Özil corner. Real Madrid won the match 6–2. Varane's goal made him the youngest foreign player at 18 years and 152 days to score a goal in a competitive match for Real Madrid.[35] On 27 September, he made hisUEFA Champions League debut in a 3–0 group stage win over Dutch clubAjax.[36] Two months later, Varane made his second Champions League appearance against Croatian clubDinamo Zagreb. In the match, Varane started and assisted on the team's fifth goal, scored byJosé Callejón, in a 6–2 win. The victory ensured Real Madrid first place in its group.[37]
2012–2016: First-team regular, UEFA Champions League wins
Ahead of the2012–13 season, Varane switched to the number 2 shirt. After failing to appear in Real Madrid's first four league matches, he made his season debut on 18 September in the club's opening UEFA Champions League group stage match against English clubManchester City. Varane started and played the entire match as Real Madrid won 3–2.[38]
On 30 January 2013, Varane made hisEl Clásico debut againstBarcelona in the2012–13 Copa del Rey. He stopped a group of dangerous attempts from Barcelona, including a shot fromXavi that he cleared from the goal line. He capped his performance with a headed goal in the game, which ended 1–1. He also became the second-youngest foreign player to score for Real Madrid in a Clásico match. In the return leg at theCamp Nou on 26 February 2013, Varane scored Madrid's third goal in a 3–1 away win with a header from a corner kick by Mesut Özil. Varane gained praise from former World Cup winnerBixente Lizarazu after his performances against Barcelona andManchester United. He said, "We are talking about a kid at Real Madrid who has unseatedPepe, and Pepe, with all his stuff, is still a great centre-half. His performance against Manchester United and Barcelona was extraordinary". Varane continued to impress in theChampions League quarter final first leg againstGalatasaray, where he helped Madrid keep a clean sheet in a 3–0 triumph. All of his 27 passes found his teammates without any interception, and all of his tackles succeeded, with most onDidier Drogba.[citation needed]
In April 2013, Varane was named byMarca readers as a member of the "Best foreign eleven inReal Madrid's history".[39] On 14 May 2013, Varane successfully underwent an operation on his right knee after an injury he had picked up during his last 2012–13 league match againstReal Sociedad.[40]
Varane came on as an injury-time substitute forKarim Benzema in the2014 Copa del Rey Final which Real Madrid won 2–1 against Barcelona on 16 April.[41] He played all 120 minutes of Real Madrid's 4–1 win overAtlético Madrid in the2014 UEFA Champions League Final, in place of the more experienced Pepe. In added time at the end of extra time, afterCristiano Ronaldo scored the last goal, Varane kicked the ball towards Atlético managerDiego Simeone, causing him to run onto the pitch in anger. Simeone was sent to the stands and Varane booked for the incident. After the game, Atlético captainGabi excused Varane due to his youth, while Simeone himself said, "I also made a mistake with my reaction. He's a young guy with a bright future."[42] On 18 September 2014, Varane signed a new six-year contract to keep him at Real Madrid until 2020.[43] He was a part-time squad player when the team won the2015–16 UEFA Champions League.[44]
Despite having a few injuries during the season, he made 23 appearances, when Madrid won the 2016–17 La Liga.[45][46] He was starting in thefinal when Madrid won the2016–17 UEFA Champions League.[47]
During the2018–19 season, he made 43 appearances, while winning the2018 FIFA Club World Cup.[55] He was a regular starter during the following league season, as Real Madrid won the2019–20 La Liga title.[56] During theChampions League, Madrid were eliminated in the round of 16 by Manchester City.[57] In the second leg at theCity of Manchester Stadium,Manchester, Madrid lost the game 2–1, with Varane being deemed to be at fault for both goals.[58] He would later issue an apology for his mistakes.[59]
On 27 July 2021, it was announced thatManchester United and Real Madrid had reached an agreement for Varane's transfer, subject to a medical and to player terms being finalised.[60][61] The transfer was completed on 14 August 2021, after Varane was announced in front of a packedOld Trafford crowd ahead of United'sPremier League opener againstLeeds United.[62][63] He was given the number 19 shirt previously worn byAmad Diallo, which he also donned during his first season with Real Madrid.[64] He made his debut on 29 August 2021 and contributed an assist to the winning goal in a 1–0 win away againstWolverhampton Wanderers.[65] On 2 May 2022, Varane scored his first goal for the club in a 3–0 league win againstBrentford.[66]
On 22 October 2022, Varane suffered a leg injury in a Premier League match against Chelsea. United managerErik ten Hag said in a press conference on 26 October that the injury would rule Varane out of all of the club's matches ahead of the break for the2022 FIFA World Cup, leaving his chances of being selected in the France squad for the tournament uncertain.[67]
On 26 February 2023, Raphaël Varane won his first trophy with United as he took place in the starting line-up in theEFL Cup final againstNewcastle United atWembley, which Manchester United won 2–0.[68] On 14 August 2023, Varane scored the winning goal in Manchester United's first game of the2023–24 season in a 1–0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers.[69]
On 14 May 2024, Varane announced that he would depart the club at the end of the season as afree agent.[70] On 25 May 2024, Varane made his final appearance for theRed Devils, lifting theFA Cup after a 2–1victory against local rivalsManchester City at Wembley. In total, he made 95 appearances for United and scored two goals.[71]
On 28 July 2024, it was announced thatSerie A clubComo signed Varane on a two-year deal with an option to extend.[72] On 11 August, he sustained a knee injury in the first half of aCoppa Italia match againstSampdoria, his first match with the club.[73] Later that month, he was excluded from the club's Serie A squad list.[74] He announced his retirement on 25 September 2024.[75][76][77]
Prior to playing for the under-18 team, he was called up to the under-17 team but did not make an appearance.[9] Varane made his debut with the under-18 team on 24 August 2010 in afriendly match againstDenmark. On his debut, he scored the final goal in a 2–0 victory.[79] Varane turned down subsequent call-ups to the under-18 team because of his increased participation with the Lens first team and, as a result, missed theTournoi de Limoges and a tournament inIsrael.[7] On 3 February 2011, he was called up to the under-21 team by coachErick Mombaerts for the first time for a friendly match againstSlovakia.[80] Varane described the call up as "a huge surprise".[81] He earned his first under-21 cap and start in the match against Slovakia playing the entire match in a 3–1 win.[82] On 15 November, Varane scored his first under-21 goal in a 2–02013 Euro U-21 qualifying win over Slovakia. The victory ensured France qualification to at least the competition's qualifying play-offs.[83]
In August 2012, Varane was called up to the France national team for a friendly againstUruguay, but was an unused substitute.[84] He started his first match for France on 22 March 2013 in a qualifier for the World Cup againstGeorgia, a 3–1 victory.[85] On 13 May 2014, he was included inDidier Deschamps' squad for the2014 FIFA World Cup.[86]
On 15 June 2014, he partneredMamadou Sakho in central defence forLes Bleus' first World Cup fixture—a 3–0 win overHonduras.[87] He was also in the starting line-up for the second group match againstSwitzerland and theknockout matches againstNigeria andGermany, as France were eliminated at the quarter-final stage by the Germans 1–0.[88] Varane took the blame for allowingMats Hummels to hold him off at the critical set-piece which allowed the German defender to head the winning goal.[89]In spite of this, Varane was named on the three-man shortlist for the tournament'sBest Young Player award.[90] On 14 October, Varane became the youngest player tocaptain France when he took over fromBlaise Matuidi at half time in a 3–0 win overArmenia.[91] He was then selected as the team's starting captain for a home friendly againstSweden on 18 November, where he scored his first international goal to giveLes Bleus a 1–0 win.[92]
On 17 May 2018, Varane was called up to France's23-man squad for the2018 FIFA World Cup.[94] He would go on to start in all seven of France's games and play every minute. In the quarter-final againstUruguay, Varane scored the opening goal with a header in France's 2–0 victory.[89][95] France later went on to win the competition for the second time in history, and Varane became only the fourth player to be a World Cup champion and Champions League winner in the same year, afterChristian Karembeu (in 1998),Roberto Carlos (in 2002) andSami Khedira (in 2014). All the players, like Varane, were playing for Real Madrid at the time they won the World Cup.[96]
In May 2021, he was included in the squad for theUEFA Euro 2020.[97] He played in every minute of France's four matches at the tournament, including the period of extra time at the end of their round of 16 match against Switzerland; that match went to penalties, but Varane was not selected to take one of the first five kicks as France lost 5–4.[citation needed]
In November 2022, Varane made the 26-man squad for France for the2022 FIFA World Cup.[98] On 18 December, Varane was named in the starting line-up for France as they played their second successive World Cup final, eventually losing 4–2 on penalties toArgentina.[99]
On 2 February 2023, at 29 years old, Varane announced his retirement from international football via hisInstagram account. The defender shared a series of photos from his international career alongside the announcement.[100][101] The announcement marked the end of his ten-year run with the national team where he made 93 appearances and scored 5 goals.
Varane was described by Lens youth coachÉric Assadourian as a "truly first-class player" who was "comfortable on both the tactical and technical level."[102] On 30 January 2013, the then-Real Madrid assistant coachAitor Karanka talked about Varane in the press conference post-El Clásico of theCopa del Rey, saying, "It's obvious that Varane has a good head on his shoulders and will keep improving."[103] Varane's height made him effective in the air, while his confidence on the ball allowed him to evade the opposing team's press and start attacking plays from the back with his passing.[104]
Former France defenderFrank Leboeuf believed that Varane had the potential to be better than Real Madrid legendFernando Hierro, saying to reporters, "Many compare him to Hierro due to his technique, but on the physical level he is stronger and he is much faster."[105] Both Hierro andJosé Mourinho labelled Varane as one of the best defenders in world football.[106][107]
Varane is married to his long-time partner Camille Tytgat,[108] and they have a son named Ruben[109] and a daughter named Anaïs.[110]
WhenZinedine Zidane called Varane about Real Madrid's interest in signing him in June 2011, Varane asked Zidane to call him back because he was in the middle of studying for his baccalaureate exam.[111]
In an interview forL'Équipe in April 2024, Varane said thatconcussions suffered in various official matches throughout his career had "damaged [his] body", as he suggested to avoid teaching children heading and called for wider awareness among players around the dangers of repeated head trauma to brain health.[114][115][116] He also revealed how symptoms of concussions had a negative impact on some of his performances, including thequarter-final match againstGermany in the2014 FIFA World Cup and the second leg of theround of 16 match againstManchester City in the2019–20 UEFA Champions League.[115][116]
^"DE GEA, KANTE AND MBAPPE IN WORLD 11". Fédération Internationale des Associations de Footballeurs Professionnels. 24 September 2018. Archived fromthe original on 25 September 2018. Retrieved13 December 2019.
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