Phil Jones and Raphael Varane have just proven Rodri right, football decision-makers have to accept fears

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For years the football schedule has been gradually increasing and the power-that-be continue to add to the fixture list, rather than trim it down.

The UEFA Nations League, the expanded Champions League and Europa League, the planned FIFA Club World Cup, and even the 48-team World Cup are all instances where UEFA and FIFA are pushing the workload on players to ridiculous levels.

Add in clubs taking on money-spinning pre-season tours, and in some cases post-season friendlies, and it’s clear we could be heading towards a tipping point.

Last week City midfielder Rodri warned players could end up going on strike, quoted via BBC Sport: “I think we are close to that. If it keeps this way, it will be a moment that we have no other option.”

Within days Rodri suffered an ACL injury, his body failing amid the frenetic onslaught of matches. And it is clear there is a real problem in modern football.

Phil Jones and Raphael Varane retire early

Manchester United’s record appearance maker Ryan Giggs enjoyed a career at the top spanning in excess of two decades.

And the longevity of Cristiano Ronaldo is also something to be marveled at. Yet in this latest era, Ronaldo really is the exception to the rule.

Back in 2011, Sir Alex Ferguson was determined to sign a new centre-back, initially targeting Raphael Varane. He missed out to Real Madrid, and bought Phil Jones instead.

Both players won trophies, represented their countries, and in Varane’s case, won multiple Champions League titles.

Yet here we are in 2024 and Varane and Jones are both retired, gone from the game for good, their bodies no longer able to hold up.

Jones played his final match in 2022 at the age of 30. He was released from United a year later, and formally announced his retirement at 32 – but it effectively happened two years prior.

Speaking to the High Performance Podcast on his final training session in 2022 he explained: “I couldn’t pass the ball with my right foot, a little soft pass, I couldn’t pass the ball. I wanted the world to swallow me up.

“I did this turn or sprint and just felt it, and I was like I can’t carry on. At the drinks break I came over to the physio and my words were ‘this is my last training session’.”

Varane has now retired after sustaining an early injury at Italian side Como. There had been speculation his contract could be terminated after the Italian side elected not to register him for 2024/25.

The French defender packed so much into his career, winning the World Cup and playing in the final of another, and has now retired at the age of 31.

Varane will go down as one of the greats of his era. Yet after signing for Real Madrid at the age of 18, he was thrown straight into an intense schedule, year after year, and a rivalry between his side and Barcelona which was at its peak.

He stepped up and rose to the challenge, yet by time he signed for United, it was clear the game had taken a lot out of him.

Varane was magnificent on his day, illustrated with his shutdown performance of Erling Haaland in the 2024 FA Cup Final. But while performing to that level was the ‘norm’ for Varane, doing it over the course of the season was simply no longer possible.

During his career Varane played 548 matches at club and international level between 2010 and 2024, at an average of 40 games a season. If that doesn’t seem high, bear in mind the average was brought down by the volume of matches he missed due to injury during his three years at United. Also factor in the intensity of the competition Varane played, at the very highest level.

Now he has been lost to the game for good, while Jones’ body began to really break down many years before his retirement.

It was not supposed to be like this. Footballers of Jones and Varane’s calibre should be enjoying Giggs-like careers. Barring exceptions, with the game demanding so much of young footballers, it remains to be seen whether it is possible.

Manchester United must tread carefully with young talents

All football clubs have a duty to protect players, especially young breakthrough stars. The likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo are cases to monitor.

Garnacho and Mainoo are incredible talents, who played key roles in Manchester United winning the FA Cup, both scoring in the final. England and Argentina then selected both of them for summer tournaments, and United had to block Garnacho being called up for the Olympics.

There is a natural temptation to select them for every game, because they are simply that good. But United have to take a long-term approach.

Big squads are needed, to cope with injuries and also to protect players from them. Michael Owen is another famous case of a player who retired early after doing too much too young.

United have to tread carefully with Garnacho and Mainoo, to protect them – but the game’s governing bodies also have to act responsibly.

Is there a need for a UEFA Nations League? Do we need an ever-expanding club schedule? Is there a way to stop it, which does not result in a player strike?

Nobody wants to see Garnacho and Mainoo retired at the age of 30. No matter what they achieve in the next decade. It would be a sad loss to the game if they are unable to enjoy long careers at the top.

Jones and Varane can be proud of their contributions to their clubs, and that they gave their all. But they should both still be playing.