Despite being only 29 years old, Manchester United centre-back Raphael Varane has now called time on his career with the France national team.
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The 2022 FIFA World Cup final was Varane's final game in the famous Les Bleus jersey, with the central defender having announced his retirement from international football.
"Representing our great country for a decade has been one of the greatest honours 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 enter the field. I have been thinking about it for several months and decided that it was the right time for me to retire from international football," he wrote on Instagram.
"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 most beautiful 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.
"This victory that we won together would never have been possible without the support of Didier Deschamps, of each of the members of the management and our staff during these years, of my teammates who defended our shirt at each of our matches. .But more importantly, this victory would not have been possible without the support of each of you along this path.
"Your enthusiasm, the celebrations and the memories of our return to France will remain etched in my mind forever. 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!
"I will miss these moments with you for sure, but the time has come 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.
"From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Rapha."
The former Real Madrid man made 93 appearances for the two-time world champions, and follows in the footsteps of Hugo Lloris, Steve Mandanda and Karim Benzema, who also retired from the French national team recently.
Ever since bursting on to the international scene in 2013, Varane has been a regular for both club and country, playing an integral role in Real's UEFA Champions League success during the 2010s while being coached by his compatriot Zinedine Zidane.
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The centre-back was also an important cog in the French side that was crowned 2018 FIFA World Cup winners, but it has been suggested that the rigours of domestic and international football over the years are beginning to take their toll and that he wants to spend more time with his family before deciding to retire from football for good.
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