Raphael Varane has disclosed that he participated in some of the most significant matches of his career while experiencing the effects of concussion.
He withdrew from a Manchester United game this season due to similar symptoms.
Raphael Varane’s Concussion confessions
The 30-year-old French defender informed L’Equipe that he played in France’s 2014 World Cup quarter-final loss to Germany despite suffering a head injury, which resulted in ‘eye fatigue’.
Raphael Varane also attributed his poor performance in Real Madrid’s 2019-20 Champions League last-16, second leg defeat to Manchester City to concussion, acknowledging that he ‘felt like a spectator’.
He mentioned to the French sports newspaper that symptoms of concussion compelled him to pull out of a fixture with United this season.
”During a match, I performed a series of headers, and in the days that followed I felt abnormal fatigue as well as severe eye fatigue.
”I reported to the staff that I was not fit to play and they strongly recommended that I not play. I took a test from a doctor, the results of which were passed on to the staff and I did not play for following match’.”, he said, as per Daily Mail.
Emphasizing the risks of playing with concussion symptoms and citing two key matches in his career where he did so, underscoring the need for prompt recognition and treatment of head injuries, Varane said, ”I wasn’t going to miss a World Cup quarter-final because I was a little tired,’ he admitted.
”I felt eye fatigue. Looking back, I say to myself: If I had known it was a concussion, would I have said it, even if it meant not playing this match?
”The staff wondered if I was suitable. I was diminished, but ultimately I played and rather well, even if I lost this duel against [Mats] Hummels [for Germany’s winning goal],” he added.
Raphael Varane’s advice to son and concussion effect
Raphael Varane also disclosed that he advises his son against heading the ball and discussed the repercussions of a concussion on his own body.
“My seven-year-old son plays football, and I advise him not to header the ball.” “Even if it does not cause immediate trauma, we know that in the long term, repeated shocks are likely to have harmful effects.
“I don’t know if I will live to be 100, but I know that I have damaged my body.
“Earlier this season, I headed the ball repeatedly during a match for Man United and felt abnormally tired in the following days, as well as having some eye fatigue.
“As footballers playing at the highest level, we are used to pain, we are a bit like soldiers, tough guys, symbols of physical strength, but these symptoms are almost invisible.” (L’Equipe), he said, as cited by EuroSports on X.
In other news, Sports Buddy reported that Arsenal, Manchester United, and Liverpool are set to battle it out for Real Madrid star valued at €100 million this summer.
