Raphael Varane recently retired from international football with France, aged 29, to focus his career on playing for Manchester United.
The decision to retire should also give Varane the opportunity to spend more time with his family. After playing in two World Cup finals, winning one in 2018, you could understand why the centre-back feels he has done everything he could for France.
Speaking about Varane’s retirement, former France and Arsenal full-back Bacary Sagna believes his compatriot will stay at United longer after retiring from France duty.
“Raphael Varane has given his all to France, his body must be tired now,” Sagna told Premier League Odds, as quoted by the Manchester Evening News. “He’s taken the opportunity to enjoy more time with family and he can focus on extending his career at Manchester United.
“He’ll be able to rest for longer periods of time now, three or four more days of rest can be very beneficial. This retirement will surely extend his stay at Manchester United by one or two years.”
Varane was a key starter for Les Bleus when they won the World Cup in Russia. He also played a major role as Didier Deschamps guided his side to another World Cup final in 2022.
As a result, losing to Argentina in that final will be Varane’s last appearance for France.
The Manchester United star earned 93 caps for France over the course of a decade, which will put him down as one of the best French servants on the international football stage.
This is good news for United because Varane has been picking up a lot of injuries whilst away on international duty. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case after the World Cup, but he did go into the tournament after a sustained period in the treatment room.
