Varela was part of Uruguay squad which won 1942 South American Championship, and remainis as third joint top scorer in the history of Copa América.During the first year of his career in the club of La Ribera, Varela continued living and working in Uruguay (where he shipped each Sunday after the match).Due to the many goals he had scored for Boca Juniors in that year, the club offered him to sign a new contract with a much better salary, but under the condition he had to move to Buenos Aires to live there and to train with the rest of the squad.[4] As a footballer, Varela was a great header, skilled to control the ball, with a fierce attitude to play.Varela gained recognition amongst Boca Juniors' fans because of his goals to River Plate (playing a total of 6 derbies and scoring in 5).