Raphael Varane has made the , including his three seasons at , playing with only "one knee".
The winner from France confessed: "I haven't tackled for years". Varane announced his retirement last month at the age of 31 following a left knee injury during his debut for Como. The former star explained that since a meniscus injury in 2013, his left knee had been compensating for his right.
“So if my left knee was telling me it had had enough, I had to listen,” Varane told L’Equipe. “Since the age of 20, I have played with the sword of Damocles hanging above my right knee. The right knee had become strong but less mobile and my left knee did everything for power and pushing off. How did I play for 11 years with one knee? With a lot of effort, sacrifices, care and learning to manage a new balance.
“Psychologically, when I entered the pitch, I couldn’t say to the others, or even myself, that I had only one knee. In fact, if you only looked at the knee, you would worry. I knew I could get hurt, break my knee, but we all live with risk. We don’t put our lives on the line like gladiators but we play with our physical issues, that is who we are. Since we were small, we are tough guys. We have played with pain all our lives.”
The former Manchester United player, who won the FA Cup in his final appearance for the club, added: "I am not sure careers last longer. The average age is falling, for example, in the Premier League. If I had stopped before, I would have had regrets. Now I know I could go no further and I can be proud of all that."
Varane, who joined Real Madrid in 2011, also expressed his thoughts on modern football, claiming there is "less creativity, fewer geniuses on the pitch". He said: "Everything is robotic, there are game patterns that make it difficult to shake up a team's block. There is much less freedom."
You may also like
Jedward reach out to Cheryl and son Bear after Liam Payne's heartbreaking death
Liam Payne and Cheryl's heartbreak behind fresh start for son Bear before star's tragic death
Liam Payne's tragic 'secret struggles' away from One Direction as singer dies aged 31
Maharashtra polls: BJP discusses candidates at Central Election Committee meet, list likely to be announced within a week
KSI joins Britain's Got Talent judges on red carpet for new season's auditions
Daily Horoscope for Thursday, October 17, 2024, for all zodiac signs by astrologer Vinayak Vishwas Karandikar
How To Clean a Sofa at Home Without a Vacuum Cleaner
Pep Guardiola jokingly accused on ruining soccer by World Cup winner
Liam Payne death latest updates: Tributes pour in as ex-One Direction star dies
Assisted dying is a hugely controversial subject and we deserve to hear both sides
Shah Rukh Khan Quips 'Not Stereotyped, I'm Hero Type', Wishes To Play Assassin: I've A New Way Of Playing A Bad Guy
Liam Payne dead: Ex Maya Henry breaks silence as One Direction star dies aged 31
Maharashtra nixes tender, 100 GRs issued after poll announced
London sides with Ottawa in diplomatic row with India
Grand Designs couple's project halted after hospital dash in devastating blow
Woman of the Hour is a star-making turn for one actress who even outshines Anna Kendrick
Rio Ferdinand at odds with Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher on Thomas Tuchel appointment
South African Police detain suspects for mass shooting
Inside Linda Hunt's life from a tough childhood to NCIS LA fame and lifelong romance
Bayern Munich chief takes brutal dig at 'catastrophic' new England boss Thomas Tuchel