Como 1907 are pleased to announce the acquisition of French defender Raphael Varane from Manchester United on a two-year contract with an option to extend. Regarded as one of the best defenders of his generation, Varane won La Liga three times and the Champions League four times during his time with Real Madrid.
The 2018 World Cup winner also helped Manchester United win their first major trophy in six years, winning the 2023 Carabao Cup at Wembley Stadium, followed by the 2024 FA Cup.
Speaking about welcoming the France international to the club, Como 1907 manager Cesc Fabregas said: “Rafael is a special player and his signing is testament to the ambition we have for this club. He has received many honours and his experience in two of the best leagues in the world should never be underestimated. I can’t wait to start working with him.”
The ownership group continued: “We are excited to welcome Rafael to the family. His experience will greatly support our ambitions to grow both on and off the field.”
Commenting on his contract, Rafael said: “I am very happy and excited about this new project. I can’t wait to get started and meet the team and my teammates. I’m also looking forward to preparing physically for the season.”
“Initially I was curious to see what the project was all about but I quickly realised it was special and different to any project I’d ever been offered and I wanted to know more. The more I found out about the project, the more intrigued I became and it gave me a different perspective on what I wanted to do. Once it came about, it quickly rose to the top of my list and I was able to sign the contract, which I’m very happy about. There’s a lot to do and it’s very exciting. I’ve had a lot of experience at the highest level and it’s exciting to be able to share that knowledge and help the club grow and hopefully reach the top.”
“I will meet Cesc again, but this time not as an opponent. I am very happy. I really like his playing philosophy and his passion for football. When we spoke it was very easy to understand each other, so I hope it will have a very good result. In any case, I will be there with a very humble attitude to help the team and the club grow.”