MANCHESTER UNITED and World Cup-winning defender, Raphael Varane, has STUNNED France by retiring from international football aged 29, according to reports.
Varane made 93 appearances in his near decade-long international career.
But according to Le Parisien, the defender does not want to push on towards the century mark and will retire from international football.
Varane played at the World Cup in Qatar last November-December and helped his country reach a second consecutive final.
However, France were beaten on penalties by Argentina after a 3-3 thriller.
Varane would like to spend more time with his family, as well as limited the chances of big injuries in the latter stages of his career.
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Across the span of his career, Varane has missed an astonishing 90 club games through injury, the worst layoff coming in 2013 with a meniscus rupture.
The Man Utd ace also recognises it’s time for the next generation of French defenders to take over.
The likes of Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano, Ibrahima Konate, William Saliba, Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile are all tipped to have bright careers.
Varane’s decision comes despite Euro 2024 taking place next year – the only major competition he is yet to win.
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In his statement, beside a phot of him holding the World Cup trophy, wrote: ‘Representing our great country for a decade has been one of the greatest honors of my life.
“Each time I wore this special blue jersey, I felt immense pride.
‘The duty to give everything, to play with my heart and to win every time we entered the field.
“I have been considering this for several months and have decided that it is the right time for me to retire from international football.
‘As a child, I remember following France 98, this team, these players who made us experience indescribable emotions.
“I dreamed of doing like our heroes and, 20 years later, I had one of the best experiences of my life, one that made me really proud.
‘We brought the Cup home!! 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.
‘Even after the defeat in the final last year, with certainly a great run, you welcomed us as heroes when we returned. To each and every one of you, a thousand times THANK YOU!”
The ex-Real Madrid ace made his debut for Les Bleus in March 2013, starting in the 3-1 win over Georgia.
Varane was part of the 2018 World Cup-winning team, helping France redeem themselves for the 2016 Euros loss on home soil – a tournament he missed through injury.
He played every single game at the Russia tournament, not missing a single minute of football.
France won the final 4-2 against Croatia to secure their second-ever world crown.
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In the same year, Varane won a fourth Champions League title with Real and a fourth Club World Cup, solidifying himself as one of the best players in the world.
In 2018 on an individual level, he was part of the Fifa Pro World11, Uefa Team of the Year, Uefa Champions League Squad of the Season, Fifa World Cup Fantasy Team, Fifa World Cup Dream Team and the IFFHS Men’s World Team.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
