Raphael Varane explains why he left Real Madrid for Manchester United

By BF Staff | March 27, 2025

Former Manchester United defender Raphael Varane has given insight into his thinking behind leaving Real Madrid.

Varane first raised eyebrows across Europe by making an impressive breakthrough at Lens, leading to an intense transfer battle for his signature.

Sir Alex Ferguson-led United were among the most serious suitors for the then teenage sensation but eventually Madrid won the race to secure his services.

Varane moved to Santiago Bernabeu in 2011 and spent a trophy-laden decade in the Spanish capital, winning everything there was to win at club level.

However, United always remained in the picture and finally got their man in 2021. A decade since their first attempt, the Red Devils had turned into a very different club. To be more precise: a much weaker side than Real.

As such, the World Cup-winning centre-back’s decision to swap Real for United surprised many.

France and Real midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni welcomed Varane on The Bridge Show podcast and asked the legendary defender to shine a light on his decision.

Varane explained (via Marca): “It was actually a long process. It’s not like you wake up in the morning and say I want to leave. In 2018, I won everything; in fact, we celebrated our fourth Champions League title quickly. It was like a normal thing, the next step is to win the Champions League and think about the next one.

“Then I won the World Cup and I said to myself, I’ve done it all. There came a point in my life where I restructured myself, reviewed some things regarding my career management, and said to myself, I need to keep feeling emotions, I need something different.

“Madrid is indescribable, it’s exceptional, but I’ve already experienced it. And I said to myself, I want to experience something else. For me, England, and Manchester in particular, is where you feel the passion for football, you feel it, you live it every day. Now that some time has passed, I have no regrets because it was an incredible experience.”

Despite their on-field struggles, United remain one of the most appealing destinations in Europe, owing to their glorious history and an incredible fanbase.

Further, Varane’s stint at the Theatre of Dreams wasn’t dry, as the Frenchman lifted the FA Cup and League Cup with the Mancunian giants before moving to Como in 2024.

Frequent injuries made his time at United difficult and the same reason led to his retirement at the age of 31 year old.