French defender Raphael Varane revealed the real reason behind his departure from Real Madrid in the summer of 2021 after spending 10 years within the walls of the royal club, confirming that he needed a new motivation in his career.

Varane stated in his comments: "You don't just wake up one morning and decide to leave Real Madrid so simply. In 2018, after winning a new Champions League title, I didn't feel anything special. It felt routine; you win the Champions League and then everyone demands the next title."

The retired French star added: "Later that same year, I won the World Cup with France, and at that moment, I felt that I had reached the peak. I had won everything and had everything, but I needed to rethink my career and manage it differently."

Varane concluded his remarks by saying: "I needed a new feeling to reignite my passion to continue, and that's why I decided to embark on a different experience away from Real Madrid."