Manchester United ace Raphael Varane has admitted there are two other destinations where he may wish to end his playing career other than Old Trafford.
The veteran defender has now firmly found his feet in Manchester after a hit-and-miss debut season last term, but Red Devils' fans may not wish to get too attached after the Frenchman conceded he has started to think about retirement plans and the destinations where he may choose to hang up his boots.
Recent months have already seen the 29-year-old call time on his international career with France in the aftermath of their World Cup heartache at the hands of Argentina. When asked about the decision, Varane explained how he felt 'suffocated' while away with his nation and blasted the 'overloaded' fixture schedule.
While a similar announcement regarding his club future may not be imminent, Varane is starting to put plans in place for when he eventually does have to call time on an illustrious career that has seen him win the Champions League alone on four separate occasions.
Step one is where he makes the announcement and who he is playing for at the time, with Varane leaving the door open in regards to the idea of a return to Lens – where his career began – or Real Madrid, where the defender spent a decade.
Speaking to the French edition of GQ Magazine, Varane was grilled on whether United is the club that will boast him until the end of his playing career as he conceded it is "a serious option."
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"I will finish my career either in Madrid, or in Manchester, or in Lens. I will not move to another club [other than those]," the World Cup winner explained.
"But Madrid seems complicated to me. Players don’t usually go back there. The most likely outcome today is that I will finish [my club career] in either Manchester or Lens."
The 29-year-old also tackled the hot debate topic of the fixture congestion, explaining that players can fall victim to a steep decline or injury problems if they don't retire sooner rather than later as Varane himself approaches the 30 years of age mark.
"Recent seasons have always finished later and started earlier. We didn’t have time to work physically and when we weren’t playing we only had time for recovery.
"You can do this for a few seasons but after a while you either crash, or you are unrecognisable [from the player you were] for six months or a year in the field, or you get injured. That’s what happens to all great players and that’s what I want to avoid."
Varane still has more than two years left to run on his United deal, meaning either one of Lens or Real Madrid will have to cough up serious cash to try and pry the defender away from United any time soon should they wish to help faciliate the fairytale ending.
