The world is holding its breath to watch the 2022 FIFA World Cup final on December 18, in Doha, Qatar. While Argentina and France have impressed the viewers, many fans are curious about the players. France’s Raphaël Varane is one such player.

Who is Raphaël Varane?

Born on April 25, 1993, Raphaël Varane is a professional football player. He represents the French national team and also plays for Premier League Club Manchester United. Varane plays as a centre-back.

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Varane was born in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region, in the city of Lille. At the age of seven, Varane started playing football with the neighborhood team AS Hellemmes in the Lille Arrondissement. Despite some attention from Derby du Nord rivals and his native club Lille OSC, he left the club in July 2002 after two years and joined professional team RC Lens.

Prior to the 2010–11 season, Varane began training with the senior team and made several substitute appearances in league games while playing for the French club Lens.

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At the age of 17, Varane made his professional football debut in 2010, and after playing for one season, he signed with Real Madrid. He won 18 trophies there over the course of 10 seasons, from 2011 to 2021, including four FIFA Club World Cups, three La Liga championships, one Copa del Rey, and four UEFA Champions League crowns. He left Real Madrid in 2021 and joined Manchester United.

Varane made his full international debut in March 2013 and had previously represented France at the under-18, under-20, and under-21 levels. He was a member of France’s FIFA World Cup teams in 2014, when he was nominated for Best Young Player, and in 2018, when France won the tournament and he participated in every game.

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Varane is considered as one of the best defenders of his generation and has often drawn praise for his unique and strategic style of playing.