Manchester United defender Raphaël Varane has opened up about the significant impact that multiple concussions have had on his career and life. The 30-year-old footballer revealed that he has experienced head injuries while playing for both club and country, shedding light on an issue that he believes is often overlooked in modern football.
Varane recounted instances where he played through head injury symptoms, including during the 2014 World Cup round-of-16 match against Nigeria and a Champions League game for Real Madrid against Manchester City in the 2019-20 season. He highlighted the challenges of recognizing and addressing head injuries in a sport where players are accustomed to pushing through pain.
The French international emphasized the importance of raising awareness about the long-term consequences of head trauma, particularly in relation to 'micro-concussions' caused by heading the ball. Varane shared a recent experience where he felt abnormally tired and experienced eye fatigue after heading the ball repeatedly during a match for Manchester United, prompting him to seek medical advice and miss the following game.
Varane expressed concern about the lack of dialogue surrounding head injuries in men's football, noting that symptoms are often invisible and can be dismissed as fatigue. He stressed the need for changes in the sport to protect players from overexposure to head trauma, citing his own advice to his seven-year-old son to avoid heading the ball to prevent potential long-term damage.
The footballer's revelations come at a time when the footballing community is increasingly focused on improving concussion protocols and player safety. The introduction of permanent concussion substitutions, approved by football's lawmakers, reflects a growing recognition of the importance of promptly addressing head injuries to safeguard players' well-being.
Varane's candid reflections serve as a reminder of the physical toll that professional football can take on players and the imperative of prioritizing their health and safety in the sport.
