“It has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” emphasizes the former Real Madrid player, world champion with his country in 2018
Former Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane, universal champion in 2018 and finalist in the recent World Cup in Qatar, announced his retirement from the French team this Thursday at just 29 years old and after 93 caps.
“I’ve been thinking about it for several months and I’ve decided it was the right time to retire internationally,” the current Manchester United player, a figure of the ‘Bleus’ since 2013, wrote on Instagram. The French team thus loses a third pillar from the dressing room after the departure of captain Hugo Lloris and his substitute Steve Mandanda, who both said goodbye to the national team last month.
Varane’s announcement is all the more surprising given his age and as he was the most likely candidate to become France’s future captain ahead of the start of Euro 2024 qualifying, scheduled for the end of March. He stops the counter with the French team ten years after his debut, in March 2013.
“It has been one of the greatest honors of my life to represent our magnificent country for ten years. Every time I have worn that special blue shirt I have felt immense pride,” he writes in his message, announcing the reasons or reasons for his decision, especially related to his injury history.
The Lens-trained centre-back also hints at his pride in winning the 2018 World Cup after beating Croatia 4-2 in the final. “I will never forget it. I still feel all the emotions that were felt that day, July 15, 2018. It was one of the most formidable and most memorable moments of my life,” he says.
After the World Cup final in Qatar, lost to Argentina on penalties on December 18, Varane had given no indication of his future with France. Announcing his decision on Thursday, he thanked French coach, Didier Deschamps, and the entire coaching staff, as well as the fans.
“I will miss these moments with you, that’s for sure, but the time has come for the new generation to pick it up. We have a group of talented young players, who are ready to take over, who deserve to to get a chance and need it,” concludes Varane.
«Raphael believes he has reached the end of his adventure with the French team. I’ve lived in a situation somewhat similar to yours. I understand his arguments and I respect his decision, even if he may regret a little for everything he was able to do with the national team,” Deschamps said in a statement, emphasizing “the fairness” and “the dedication” of his player.
Holder of the world champion team in 2018 and second in the world in 2022, winner of the League of Nations in 2021, Varane ends an international career that began at the age of 19. If he is not yet 30 years old, Varane ranks 13th in the ranking of French players with the most caps.
With four Champions League titles to his name, all won with Real Madrid, Varane has had several teammates grow up by his side in the backbone of France, such as Mamadou Sakho in the 2014 World Cup, former Barça player Samuel Umtiti four years later, most recently Presnel Kimpembe and Dayot Upamecano in Qatar.
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
