After 93 selections, five goals scored and a decade of presence in the workforce, the Manchester United player has decided to say stop to the Blues, more than a month after his last meeting with the tricolor jersey, disillusionment in the World Cup final -2022 against Argentina (3-3 ap, 4-2 tab).

But at less than 30 years old, this choice is much more unexpected than that of Lloris (36 years old), retired from the Blues since the beginning of January like his lining Steve Mandanda (37 years old), both arrived at the end of their history with the tunic with two stars.

"I've been thinking about it for several months and I decided it was the right time for me," said the player on Instagram, without explaining more deeply the reasons for his choice.

"The time has come for the new generation to take over," added the defender.

Since his first selection, March 22, 2013 against Georgia (3-1), Raphaël Varane has established himself as the basic man of the French defense, one of the managers of coach Didier Deschamps who quickly promoted him to the rank of vice-captain, giving him the armband for the first time at 21 in 2014.

French defender Raphaël Varane battling with Argentine No.10 Lionel Messi, during the World Cup, December 18, 2022 in Doha © JACK GUEZ / AFP / Archives

"Commitment" and "honesty"

The international retirement of Lloris had also placed him in pole position to permanently recover this armband in March, with a view to qualifying for Euro-2024... Without him, the choice of the future captain of Deschamps will be particularly scrutinized, especially since the hypothesis of seeing Kylian Mbappé promoted to this role has gained momentum in recent weeks.

“Raphael believes that he has reached the end of his adventure with the France team. I experienced a situation somewhat similar to his, I understand his arguments and respect his decision even if it may seem regrettable in view of everything that he has. He was able to do with the selection", reacted Deschamps in a press release where he salutes the "honesty" and "the unfailing commitment" of his former player.

France team defender Raphael Varane and coach Didier Deschamps after a victory against Germany, in the group stage of Euro-2020, on June 15, 2021 in Munich © FRANCK FIFE / POOL/AFP

Holder of the world champion team in 2018 and vice-world champion in 2022, winner of the League of Nations in 2021, Varane closes a linear and smooth career with the Blues, which he knew very early, at 19 years.

While he is not even thirty years old, "Rapha" is in 13th place in the ranking of the most capped French people, with 93 selections.

Sign of an extraordinary regularity, he piled up 90 tenures.

Sacrifices

Four times winner of the Champions League with Real Madrid (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018), the player trained in Lens has offered his experience at the highest level to various partners of the central hinge.

Mamadou Sakho at the 2014 World Cup, Samuel Umtiti in 2018, Presnel Kimpembe in recent years and Dayot Upamecano in Qatar have succeeded to his left on lawns around the world.

This imposing central defender of one meter ninety-one, with a reserved and calm temperament, has transformed in recent months into a leader of the locker room, to remobilize a French team with results that have been up and down since 2021. speech at halftime of France-Poland, in December in the round of 16 of the World Cup, revealed a preponderant role internally.

But Varane's course in Blue will have cost him many sacrifices.

That of Euro-2016, missed through injury, and that of the last few months, with a race against time to return in time from a thigh injury before the World Cup-2022.

"I went into express recovery mode, through a lot of effort and sacrifice to be ready in the timings. I had a lot of desire, a rage to win," he explained during the competition.

This World Cup in Qatar, Varane will end it on the kneecaps, exhausted by a last defensive withdrawal at the Lusail stadium in the 113th minute of the final.

Livid and on the verge of tears, he had given way to Ibrahima Konaté … Like a passing of the baton, after a blue decade.

© 2023 AFP