Raphael Varane, the Manchester United defender, has stated that his decision to retire from international football was influenced by the “overloaded schedule” of football.
On Thursday, Varane, who appeared to be in his prime and was only two months away from turning 30, announced the end of his international career.
However, the Manchester United defender has been open about how his inability to consistently deliver at his best affected him, ultimately forcing him to make the difficult decision to retire from international competition for France.
In an interview with Canal+, Varane said:
I gave everything, physically and mentally. But the very highest level is like a washing machine, you play all the time and you never stop.
We have overloaded schedules and play non-stop. Right now, I feel like I’m suffocating and that [Varane] the player is gobbling up [Varane] the man.
Varane appeared to be in line to replace Hugo Lloris as France’s captain after Lloris announced his retirement from international football last month, making his announcement even more surprising.
Varane appeared 93 times for his country in the ten years following his international debut in 2013, serving as a pillar in the middle of the defense.
He played throughout the 2018 World Cup, in which Les Bleus won the trophy for the second time in team history. He also had a big impact on France’s World Cup 2022 performance, which ended in the final. Argentina ended France’s title defense hopes on penalties.
The 29-year-old and his country won the Nations League in 2021 after France overcame a 2-1 deficit to defeat Spain.
Most of his supporters expected him to lead France to the World Cup in 2026. However, after admitting that representing his country was affecting his mental health, he decided to discontinue international play.
Many people were surprised by Varane’s retirement, but France’s manager, Didier Deschamps, welcomed it enthusiastically and praised the center-back for his “unwavering commitment to the blue jersey.”
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