The central defender and vice-captain of the France team Raphaël Varane, world champion in 2018 and finalist of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, announced Thursday his international retirement at 29 years old. "I've been thinking about it for several months and decided it's the right time for me to retire from international football," the current Manchester United player, who has been with the Blues since 2013, wrote on Instagram.
The French team loses a third pillar of the tricolor locker room after the departure of captain Hugo Lloris and his lining in the cage Steve Mandanda, who both said goodbye to the selection last month. Varane's announcement is more surprising, as he was applying to become Les Bleus' future captain at the start of Euro 2024 qualifying, scheduled for the end of March.
At 29, the former Real Madrid player stops his counter at 93 selections, ten years after his debut under the tricolor tunic, in March 2013.
"Representing our great country for a decade has been one of the greatest honors of my life. Every time I've worn this special blue jersey, I've felt immense pride,” he wrote in his message, where the reasons for his choice are not disclosed.
In his text, the player trained in Lens looks back on his pride in having won the World Cup more than four years ago in Russia, against Croatia in the final (4-2). " I will never forget him. I still feel every single emotion I felt that day, July 15, 2018. It was one of the greatest and most memorable moments of my life,” he says.
After the 2022 World Cup final lost against Argentina (3-3 a.p., 4-2 tab), on December 18, Varane had given no indication of his future in the France team. When announcing his choice on Thursday, he thanked his coach Didier Deschamps and his staff, as well as the supporters. “I will miss those times with you for sure, but now is the time for the new generation to take over. We have a group of talented young players who are ready to take over, who deserve a chance and who need you. »
The Blues coach reacted to this announcement, calling Raphaël Varan a "leader" for the Blues and an "effective relay" for management. He explained to "respect his decision" and welcome with "emotion" the departure of the 2018 world champion. "Like Hugo Lloris, he will have been, barring injury, on all my lists," Deschamps said in a statement sent by the Federation. French Football Association (FFF).
"After Blaise Matuidi, Steve Mandanda and Hugo Lloris, Raphaël is the fourth 2018 world champion to retire internationally," noted the coach, recently extended until the 2026 World Cup.
Guy Stéphan, Didier Deschamps' assistant, for his part paid tribute to "a great professional in his approach", "a respected leader, who grew up with the team". "Everyone was listening to him. He had the verb and the tone [...] The France team loses a leading player. »
On social media, Varane received thanks and tributes from many partners, including Kylian Mbappé, who wished him "the best for the future". "I am sad, but so happy for you, for everything you have done for the Republic, for football," wrote Paul Pogba.
