Raphael Varane announces retirement from international football

Image via: David Dixon/Geograph. CC BY-SA 2.0. OTF Logo added.

Raphael Varane has called time on his playing career for France, choosing to retire from international football.

In a rather surprising bit of news, Raphael Varane has called time on his international career, retiring from his beloved France.

The centre-half did take to social media to announce the news earlier today, choosing to hang up his boots for Les Bleus, in the wake of losing the World Cup final back in December.

Varane, a World Cup winner, has always pulled on the France shirt with immense pride, proving to be one of their most consistent players over a lengthy period.

Now, aged 29, Varane has called it quits – choosing to put family (and health) first.

Although this news is somewhat of a shock, he’d be 33 by the time the next World Cup rolls around, meaning Rapha had to make a decision now – or continue playing for another four years.

This feels like the smart decision, though it does indicate that Varane isn’t planning on being one of those players who keeps going deep into their thirties.

In the short-term, this is excellent news for United. It means they’re getting a Varane who isn’t jetting all across the globe to play international friendly matches. Instead, United are getting a player who’ll be resting up for two weeks and benefitting from that time off.

The Varane and Lisandro Martinez partnership has been really flourishing of late, with the Frenchman enjoying a better season fitness-wise this time around. This international retirement will only help further that partnership, while Varane continues to sure up a United defence that has struggled over the past couple of seasons.

Happy international retirement, Rapha!

Do you think Raphael Varane is now going to play even better for Man United? Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below.

About Jordan Street 19808 Articles
Mancunian. Red through and through. Season Ticket holder block E332.

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