Official Announcement: Varane Joins Como on Free Transfer

Como is delighted to announce the signing of French defender Raphael Varane on a two-year contract with an option to extend. Varane is regarded as one of the finest defenders of his generation, having won three La Liga titles and four Champions League titles during his time at Real Madrid. The 2018 World Cup winner also helped Manchester United secure their first major trophy in six years, lifting the 2023 EFL Cup and the 2024 FA Cup at Wembley.

Commenting on the club's acquisition of the French former international, Como's Cesc Fabregas said: "Raphael is a special player, and his signing demonstrates our ambition for the club. His remarkable achievements and experience in two of the world's top leagues are invaluable. I can't wait to start working with him."

Varane himself stated: "I am very happy and excited about this new project, and I can't wait to start working and meeting my teammates. Additionally, I need to get physically ready for the new season."

"At first, I was curious about what this project was all about, and then I immediately found it special and different from anything I had encountered before, so I wanted to learn more. The more I learned about it, the more interesting it became, giving me a different perspective on what I wanted to do. This project went straight to the top of my list as soon as it appeared, and we successfully completed the deal. I am very happy and have a lot to do, which is very exciting. I have accumulated a lot of experience at the highest level of competition, and now I can share this knowledge and help a club build its own structure to reach the top level, which is very exciting for me."

"I met Cesc again, but this time not as an opponent. I am happy and I really appreciate his philosophy of the game and his passion for football. When we talk, we easily understand each other, so I hope we can achieve very positive results. In any case, I will approach this with humility to help the team and the club grow."