SUMMARY
- Raphael Varane has been very injury-prone lately.
- The Frenchman has revealed how concussions have ruined his body.
Raphael Varane’s career since joining Manchester United has taken a drastic turn. The French defender’s fitness has taken a hit with his constant injuries. The 30-year-old has also become very mistake-prone, with United fans slowly losing trust in him. However, the soccer fans might have finally gotten the answer to his recent struggles.
Apparently, Raphael Varane’s career has been hindered by the many mini-concussions that he has faced during matches. He regrets not treating them well and rushing through the recovery process, which is costing him now. Allegedly, concussions had hampered the Frenchman’s performances in two important games of his career.
Raphael Varane suffered a concussion against Nigeria in the R16 of the FIFA World Cup 2014 but was forced to play in the quarterfinals against Germany. The second major concussion of his career occurred before the second leg of the 2019/20 UCL R16 against Manchester City.
Varane: “I know that, personally, I won’t live until 100; I know that I have damaged my body. I have put myself in danger. By speaking about it, situations can perhaps be better analysed and take decisions based on the risks.” [@lequipe via @GFFN] #mufc
— The United Stand (@UnitedStandMUFC) April 2, 2024
Raphael Varane detailed his struggles with concussion against Manchester City at length: “I was telling myself to wake up in the warm-up […] the first few touches were tidy technically, but it was way too slow. I couldn’t concentrate and stay in the match; I was like a spectator. The match went badly for me.”
Real Madrid lost the leg 2-1, ultimately losing the tie 4-2 on aggregate. However, both goals arrived due to two errors from Raphael Varane, who later realized that his performance had faltered in the game due to the concussion.
It is precisely due to this fact that the Manchester United player is very wary about heading the ball nowadays. He has revealed that Manchester United training sessions stipulate that a player won’t head the ball more than 10 times. Raphael Varane has also advised his son not to use his head while playing the ball.
The Frenchman says, “I really questioned myself after that match, but in the end, I realised that these unusual errors hadn’t just fallen from the sky.” Raphael Varane doesn’t believe that he should have played in that game.
Varane, who made his senior debut for RC Lens in 2010, also looked pretty scared about his life. He said, “I know that, personally, I won’t live until 100; I know that I have damaged my body […] I have put myself in danger.” However, the former Real Madrid player expects that the soccer authorities will look into the matter of the repeated concussions that the players undergo.
Raphael Varane retired from international soccer aged just 28
The Frenchman announced his retirement from the French national team in February 2024 after a glorious time playing for his nation. Raphael Varane earned 98 caps and is ranked 13th on the list of French players with the highest number of caps for their country.
Varane played in seven major tournaments for France, winning the FIFA World Cup in 2018 and the UEFA Nations League in 2021. He was also part of the team that went to the finals of the 2016 UEFA Euro and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
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Raphael Varane was a very revered figure in the French locker room who was applauded for his leadership on the pitch. The 30-year-old demonstrated extreme defensive awareness and was a wall in the French backline.
Hence, it came as a surprise after Raphael Varane abruptly announced his decision at the young age of 28. However, he revealed in March 2023 that the reason behind his shocking decision was fixture congestion and his struggles with fitness. He also cast doubts over the commitment of French players to their nation in the future.
The Frenchman said, “I’m afraid that we will witness much shorter careers and that players will have to give up the France team very early because, physically or mentally, what we are asking for today is simply beyond limits.” However, it is not the first time that Raphael Varane has spoken up about fixture congestion. (via Goal.com)
The Frenchman believes that the English FA ignores the soccer players
Raphael Varane released a statement in 2023 criticizing the English FA for being very autocratic. He accused them of forcing their whims on the players without paying attention to their needs. Moreover, Varane accused the FA of overcrowding the players’ schedules and restricting their emotions on the soccer pitch.
The FIFA World Cup 2018 winner said, “Despite our previous feedbacks, they have now recommended for next season: longer games, more intensity, and less emotions to be shown by players. We just want to be in good condition on the pitch to give 100% to our club and fans. Why are our opinions not being heard?”
🎙️ Raphael Varane: “We had a meeting last week with the FA. They recommended from the referees new decisions and rules.
From the managers and players, we have shared our concerns for many years now that there are too many games, the schedule is overcrowded, and it’s at a… pic.twitter.com/S2IHGJD3kD
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) August 7, 2023
It looks like Raphael Varane is slowly revealing what every soccer player has gone through for a long time. Even Thibaut Courtois once slammed UEFA and FIFA for scheduling meaningless matches.
The league organizers should understand that the players’ lives are much more important than their greed for commercial gain. The concerned authorities should sort out the issues with the players soon, as it may soon lead to a huge debacle.