Manchester United defender Raphael Varane has admitted that heading the ball has taken a toll on his body, expressing uncertainty about his longevity.
He revealed that he has advised his young son to steer clear of using his head while playing football, citing the physical toll it has taken on him.
Despite his success in heading the ball, Varane believes it has caused damage to his body and worries about the potential long-term consequences for his son if he were to continue doing so.
Sharing his own experience of feeling fatigue and eye strain after a match earlier in the season, the former Real Madrid star emphasized the importance of considering the risks associated with heading the ball in football.
“My seven-year-old son plays football, and I advise him to head 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,” Varane said (via centredevils).
“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.”
