Varane retires from international football
Le Parisien reports that the 29-year-old central defender has decided to call time on his international career after 93 caps with France.
Raphaël Varane has retired from international football. Le Parisien reports that the 29-year-old defender has decided that his playing days with France have come to an end. The World Cup final against Argentina, on 18 December was his last game with Les Bleus.
The main reason why the Manchester United centre-back has decided to end his international career is his ongoing physical problems, in addition to the psychological fatigue that comes with each game with the national team. The defender also wants to spend more time with his family and focus on his energies on United.
Another France international bows out
After Benzema, Lloris and Mandanda, Varane beomes the fourth player to leave the French national team following the recent World Cup in Qatar. After more than ten years with the national team, 93 caps and two titles, the 2018 World Cup and the 2021 Nations League, Varane aspired to wear the captain’s armband after Lloris’ decision to retire.
However, the Qatar World Cup in Qatar wore Varane down both physically and mentally. The player, who will turn 30 in April, was part of a new generation that emerged in France - a group that culminated by winning the World Cup in Russia five years ago. According to Le Parisien, he will soon give a press conference to explain the reasons why he has decided to call it quits.