Official: Como announce signing of four-time Champions League winner Varane | OneFootball

Como have officially announced the signing of four-time Champions League winner and 2018 World Cup champion Raphael Varane.

The 31-year-old joins on a free transfer following the expiry of his contract with Manchester United at the end of June.

The former Real Madrid centre-back has signed a two-year deal with the option to extend for a further 12 months with the newly-promoted Serie A side.

Varane arrived at Como’s pre-season training camp in Austria on Sunday, where he met coaches Cesc Fabregas and Osian Roberts, as well as his new teammates.

What Como and Fabregas said about Varane

“Como 1907 is thrilled to announce the signing of French defender Raphaël Varane from Manchester United on a two year deal with an option to extend,” the club wrote in an official statement.

“Regarded as one of the best defenders of his generation, Varane won three La Liga titles and four Champions League trophies during his time at Real Madrid.

“The 2018 World Cup winner also helped Manchester United to win their first major trophies in six years, lifting the 2023 Carabao Cup and then the 2024 FA Cup at Wembley Stadium.”

Fabregas also shared his excitement at Varane’s signing.

“Raphaël is a special player and his signing is proof of the ambition we have for this club. He is highly decorated and the experience he brings in two of the best leagues in the world can not be underestimated. I can’t wait to start working with him,” Fabregas added.

Varane has joined in time for Como’s pre-season friendly against Al-Hilal on Monday, but it has not yet been confirmed whether he will be involved in matchday action.

Varane joins Como, who finished second in Serie B last season, off the back of a three-year spell in the Premier League with Manchester United, during which time he made 68 top-flight appearances with 22 of those coming in the 2023-24 season.

Before then, the Frenchman enjoyed an illustrious, 10-year career with Real Madrid, where he won LaLiga on three occasions, the Copa del Rey once, as well as four coveted Champions League winners medals.

He has also earned 93 caps at senior level for the France national team, scoring five, and has also played in two World Cup finals, winning in 2018 and finishing runner-up to Lionel Messi’s Argentina in 2022.

Coincidentally, Varane’s 2018 World Cup-winning partner Samuel Umtiti also had a recent spell with a newly-promoted club in Serie A when he turned out for Lecce on loan from Barcelona in 2022-23.