'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAFAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYH/8QAFQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAwX/2gAMAwEAAhADEAAAAMfngKn/xAAeEAABAwQDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAAIRAwQFExIVIv/aAAgBAQABPwDH4mh0N1cVPXPUYDRIl5Ahy0NK/8QAFhEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgAy/9oACAECAQE/ABtX/8QAGREBAAIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDAAQx/9oACAEDAQE/ANqESmlDpn//2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Former Manchester United and Real Madrid star Raphael Varane is believed to be considering retirement following recent knee injury, according to French publication Le Parisien.
Varane, who left Manchester United at the end of his deal earlier this June, moved to Serie A outfit Como on a free transfer in July. However, the 31-year-old defender picked up a knee problem in his club's Coppa Italia first round defeat to Sampdoria earlier this August.
As a result, the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner was left out of Como's Serie A squad last month. He has missed all five of his club's league outings this season and has featured in 23 minutes of action for them.
Now, according to the aforementioned report, the former Real Madrid man is keen to hang up his boots after recently suffering yet another injury issue. He is thought to be close to terminating his Como deal.
Last campaign, Varane missed a total of 11 matches across all competitions for the Red Devils due to a couple of injuries. He started 25 of his 32 overall appearances for his former club, registering one goal.
Prior to making 95 appearances and lifting two trophies for Manchester United, the Frenchman earned his name during a decade-long stint at Real Madrid. He scored 17 goals in 360 overall outings for the La Liga giants, helping them win 18 trophies in the process.
Ex-Real Madrid ace Antonio Cassano slams Manchester United great Cristiano Ronaldo
Speaking recently on Viva El Futbol, former Real Madrid star Antonio Cassano hit out at Manchester United legend Cristiano Ronaldo for his sub-par link-up play. He said (h/t The Sun):
"Cristiano Ronaldo doesn't know how to play football. He could score 3000 goals, I don't give a f***. [Gonzalo] Higuain, [Sergio] Aguero, [Karim] Benzema, [Robert] Lewandowski, [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic and [Luis] Suarez knew how to link-up with the team. They knew how to do a lot of things, unlike Ronaldo whose only objective has always been to score."
Ronaldo, 39, became the first men's footballer to net 900 goals in his career earlier this month. He has opened this season on a great note, contributing five goals and two assists in six total games for Al-Nassr.
The Portuguese played alongside Como star Raphael Varane at Real Madrid from 2011 to 2018 and at the Red Devils from 2021 to 2022. He has shared the football pitch with Varane 231 times at two clubs.
