Raphael Varane, a French footballer, has announced his retirement from the sport after a 14-year career that earned him an estimated net worth of $60 million.
Key Takeaways
- He won the World Cup, football’s most important trophy, and the UEFA Nations Cup with the French squad, and has 93 caps for France’s national team.
- Considering his 14-year professional career and numerous brand endorsements, Raphaël Varane’s estimated net worth is projected to reach an impressive $60 million.
Raphael Varane (born April 25, 1993) is a former French professional footballer who played center-back.
He is best known for his tenure with well-known clubs such as Real Madrid and Manchester United, where he played most of his professional career.
Varane was a part of France’s FIFA World Cup roster in 2014, where he was nominated for the Best Young Player award.
Additionally, he participated in every game of the 2018 World Cup, helping France win the championship.
But after suffering a devastating knee injury on his Como debut last month, he unexpectedly declared his retirement from the sport at 31, startling the football community.
Raphael announced his retirement from football on Wednesday morning via an Instagram post in which he recalled his favorite moments from his career and thanked all of his teammates throughout the years.
A Look at Raphael Varane’s Career And Net Worth
Varane began his football career at seven with Hellemmes in Lille before moving to Lens in July 2002, despite interest from Derby du Nord rivals and Lille.
He competed for the club’s under-16 team during the 2008-09 season, winning the Championnat National des 16 Ans.
Two years later, he was promoted to the under-19 squad. Varane got his first professional contract in 2010 and was promoted to the reserve team of the French amateur championship.
He made his amateur debut in the club’s first league encounter and started nine games.
In late October, Varane was called up to the senior team by manager Jean-Guy Wallemme for training ahead of the club’s game against Montpellier.
He was named to the starting lineup due to an injury to center-back Alaeddine Yahia, and he played the entire game in the win. He received appreciation from teammates, local media, and Wallemme.
Varane was on the bench for two matches before returning to the starting lineup and was assigned as a defensive midfielder in December.
At a club meeting on June 22, 2011, Lens president Gervais Martel informed a group of supporters that Varane would be joining La Liga team Real Madrid.
He made waves after joining Real Madrid and even won La Liga with his new club.
The young star had signed a six-year contract with Real Madrid, where he went on to win multiple trophies, including the UEFA Champions League, La Liga, and Club World Cup.
Varane’s strike made him the youngest foreign player to score in a competitive match for Real Madrid, at 18 years and 152 days old.
In April 2013, Marca readers chose him as one of the “Best foreign eleven in Real Madrid’s history.”
Luckily, Varane underwent successful surgery on his right knee on May 14, 2013, following an injury sustained during his last league play against Real Sociedad.
French Footballer Varane signed a new six-year contract with Real Madrid on September 18, 2014, extending his stay until 2020. He was a part-time starter when the squad won the UEFA Champions League in 2015–16.
He played a key role in Madrid’s 2016-17 UEFA Champions League victory.
Varane’s contract was extended to 2022 on September 27, 2017, and had helped Real Madrid win more games.
However, on July 27, 2021, it was revealed that Varane’s transfer to Real Madrid and Manchester United had been agreed upon, pending the completion of a player’s medical and player terms.
Varane was announced to a packed Old Trafford crowd before United’s Premier League opener against Leeds United, and the deal was finalized on August 14, 2021.
On February 26, 2023, Raphaël Varane won his first trophy at Manchester United, starting in the EFL Cup final against Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium. Manchester United won 2-0.
He left the club as a free agent at the end of the season, as confirmed on May 14, 2024.
Varane’s final appearance for the Red Devils was when they won the FA Cup 2-1 against Manchester City at Wembley. He made 92 appearances for United and scored two goals.
On July 28, 2024, it was revealed that Varane had signed a two-year contract with Serie A team Como, with the option to extend.
A few weeks later, on August 11, he sustained a knee injury during the first half of a Coppa Italia encounter against Sampdoria. Later that month, he was dropped from the team’s Serie A roster.
His international career with France began in 2010 at the age of 18; he made the main team in 2013 and announced his retirement from international competition in 2022.
With an illustrious career spanning numerous victories and setbacks, including injuries, Raphael Varane has built a remarkable fortune.
Over his 14-year professional career, along with lucrative brand endorsements, Varane’s net worth is estimated to be around $60 million.
His time at Manchester United further bolstered his wealth, where his three-year contract earned him an impressive $454,585 per week, contributing significantly to his overall financial success.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Varane is married to his long-time partner, Camille Tytgat.
- He has a son, Ruben, and a daughter, Anaïs.
- His sister, Annabelle Varane, was Miss Nord-Pas-de-Calais in 2018 and competed in Miss France 2019.
