Aheed Abrar
Didier Deschamps wishes Manchester United defender Raphael Varane the best after France retirement
France national team head coach Didier Deschamps has wished Manchester United star Raphael Varane the best for his career after the centre-back’s international retirement.
On Thursday (2 February), the 29-year-old hung up his boots for Les Bleus in an announcement that would have come as a surprise for many given his age. The former Real Madrid star has amassed 93 caps for the 2018 World Cup champions over the years.
Varane has played a pivotal role in several major tournaments for France. The centre-back made his debut for Les Bleus under Deschamps in March 2013 in a World Cup qualification match against Georgia that ended in a 3-1 victory.
In a statement transcribed by L’Equipe (h/t Manchester Evening News), Deschamps was grateful for the 29-year-old’s service to his team. The French manager revealed that the United defender phoned him about the decision.
“Raphaël has played a central role on and off the pitch over the last decade. I took great pleasure in being his coach, and I know that is also the case with the rest of the staff. I wish him the best fulfilment and happiness possible.”
Since the 2014 World Cup, Varane has been ever-present in France’s starting lineup. The centre-back started every game for Les Bleus as they lifted the coveted World Cup title in Russia.
Deschamps’ men almost went all the way once again in Qatar. The 29-year-old played a key role in the Middle East for France. However, after a valiant comeback, France lost to Argentina on penalties.
Varane has had a trophy-laden career. At Madrid, the 29-year-old won several trophies. However, since he arrived in Manchester, the 29-year-old has not had as much success in terms of silverware.
After an underwhelming debut season, the centre-back has come into his own under Erik ten Hag. Alongside the French national, Lisandro Martinez has formed a solid partnership in the Red Devils’ backline.
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Hopefully, we will be able to end our trophy drought this season. While Varane’s retirement is unfortunate for French football, the 29-year-old will now have his full focus on United, which is a good thing for us.
France won’t have a shortage of options to fill in for Varane. Ibrahima Konate, William Saliba, and Benoit Badiashile are just some of the young, quality centre-backs at their disposal.
