Raphael Varane announces retirement: Former Manchester United and France star calls time on career at 31 following devastating knee injury

The defender recently signed with Serie A club Como, making the move from Manchester United where he parted ways at the conclusion of last season when his contract expired.

He signed an initial two-year deal but suffered a serious knee injury just 23 minutes into his debut against Sampdoria in the Coppa Italia.

Later in August the France international was removed from the club's squad list for the league season, and the injury has now forced him to call time on his illustrious career.

"They say all good things must come to an end," Varane wrote in a lengthy Instagram message which revealed his plans for the future.

"A new life begins off the pitch. I will remain with Como. Just without using my boots and shin pads. Something I am looking forward to sharing more about soon."

Varane started his career at French side Lens but left after just one season in the first team to join Real Madrid in 2011.

He enjoyed a decorated 10-year career in the Spanish capital, winning 18 trophies - including three LaLiga titles and four Champions League successes.

The centre-back moved to Old Trafford in the summer of 2021 for a fee believed to be around £41m including add-ons - going on to make 95 appearances in all competitions.

He won the Carabao Cup in 2022 and his final appearance for the club was an FA Cup final victory over rivals Manchester City at Wembley in May.

In all, Varane made 480 club appearances across a 14-year career and earned 93 caps for France en route to lifting the 2018 World Cup.

How Real Madrid shaped Varane

' Adam Bate, writing in August 2021:

He was the worst-kept secret in European football back in 2011. A teenage defender with height and speed, skilful enough to star at the highest level. He was only 17 years old but the world's biggest clubs were watching - much to Sir Alex Ferguson's frustration.

The story of Manchester United's pursuit of the young Raphael Varane took on greater significance one decade on from almost signing him. The defender has won one World Cup and four Champions Leagues since Ferguson jumped on that train to France.

The United legend's recollection of events in April 2011 is that Zinedine Zidane "scooped him up from under our noses" while chief executive David Gill was going through the finer points of the contract with Lens. In Madrid, a different conversation was happening.

Jose Mourinho was coming towards the end of his first season in the job and found himself confronted with the reality of what Pep Guardiola's Barcelona had become. The 5-0 defeat in the Nou Camp that November had been chastening. A rebuild was required.

In a meeting to discuss future plans, Zidane, working as a special adviser prior to being announced as the new sporting director that summer, declared there was a centre-back at Lens who would become better than World Cup-winning captain Laurent Blanc.