Raphael Varane has sought new pastures following his release at Manchester United.
The former Manchester United defender was released upon the expiry of his contract this summer, after playing a key role in the FA Cup win over Man City in May.
Varane, who spent three years at United, will be in Italy playing for Cesc Fabregas’ Como 1907 next season. He joins the Serie A newcomers on a two-year deal.
A statement on Como’s official website said: “Como 1907 are pleased to announce the signing of French defender Raphael Varane, who played for Manchester United last season, on a two-year contract with an option to extend.
“Considered one of the best defenders of his generation, Varane won three La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues during his time at Real Madrid.
“The 2018 World Cup winner also helped Manchester United win their first major trophies in six years, lifting the 2023 Carabao Cup and then the 2024 FA Cup at Wembley Stadium.”
Fabregas was appointed Como manager in the wake of the promotion. After adding Varane to his squad ahead of the new campaign, the former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder said: “Raphael is a special player and his signing is proof of the ambition we have for this club.
“He has won so much in his career and the experience he has gained in two of the best leagues in the world cannot be underestimated. I can’t wait to start working with him.”
This will be Fabregas’ first taste of management and he will now have a World Cup winner in the heart of his Como defence.
Varane reflected on the move, saying: “I’m very happy and excited about this new project, and I can’t wait to get started and meet up with the team and my team-mates. There’s also the physical preparation for the season to look forward to.
“At first, I was curious to find out what the project was all about, and then I immediately saw that it was special, different from any other I’d been offered, so I wanted to know more. The more I learned about the project, the more interesting it became, giving me a different perspective on what I wanted to do. Once the project came along, it went straight to the top of the list, and we managed to close the deal. I’m very happy. There’s a lot to do, and it’s very exciting. I have a lot of experience at the highest level, and now to be able to share that knowledge and help a club build itself up and hopefully reach the top is super exciting.
I’m super excited, incredibly proud and can’t wait to get started !! 😁🇮🇹 https://t.co/4brjRJHv9v
— Raphaël Varane (@raphaelvarane) July 28, 2024
“I’m meeting Cesc again, but not as an opponent this time. I’m very happy, I really like his philosophy of play and his passion for football. When we spoke it was so easy to understand each other, so I hope we’ll have very positive results. In any case, I’m coming with a great deal of humility to help the team and the club grow.”
Subscribe to the Stretty News podcast Strettycast for weekly episodes on Manchester United. You can also sign up to the ad-free Stretty Newsletter. Get the Stretty News verdict on all matters Manchester United.
