Varane reveals how Fabregas convinced him to join Como adventure

Raphael Varane admits Como coach Cesc Fabregas played an ‘important’ role in bringing him to the Serie A club, but there were ‘many other elements’ that convinced him.

The 31-year-old was a free agent following the end of his contract with Manchester United and after a few weeks to consider his options, put pen to paper on a two-year deal with option for a third.

“What convinced me was the overall project,” declared Varane in a press conference.

“It was a very interesting project, but also an opportunity for me to help the club. My personal ambition was to come here and try a new challenge, to learn from it.”

Fabregas inspired Varane move

Inevitably, the fact that Fabregas is the coach of Como was a key element in convincing the veteran France international.

“Obviously, Cesc was a very important person in that process, but it is a new challenge, with a new league, let’s just say there were all the elements required for me to come here.”

In order to show off not only the sporting facilities, but also the beauty of the Lake Como area where he would live, Varane was invited for several days to meet with directors and take a tour.

“We talked about football mainly. I liked his philosophy, the ideas he proposed, because we always did and still do have many ideas in common,” continued the player.

“Cesc is someone who likes to win, so there wasn’t too much that needed to be said.”

There have been many new signings and it is a very different team already to the one that finished second in Serie B last season behind Parma to earn automatic promotion.

“We need to get physically fit and learn to play together, because there are new tactical ideas that the coach is asking for. I think we need to take it one game at a time, see how we start the season and then try to keep improving.”

Varane has a truly prestigious career, winning four editions of the Champions League and the 2018 World Cup for France.