France national team manager Didier Deschamps seems to have been taken by surprise by the announcement of Raphaël Varane’s international retirement. The defender stated on Thursday that his 93rd France cap against Argentina during the World Cup final would be his last. Considering he’s only 29 and still playing high-level football with Manchester United, many have been surprised by the former Real Madrid defender’s decision to hang up his France boots. Varane explained he was exhausted by the hectic schedule that comes with the football calendar.
After stating that he understood and respected Varane’s decision to call time on international duty, Deschamps now seems to show slight bitterness at the prospect of not being able to count anymore on the Lille-born 2018 World Cup winner. “It’s not something that pleases me“, claimed Deschamps to RMC Sport. “Only he knows why he took that decision.” Deschamps doubles down on his regrets by saying he would have preferred Varane to keep waiting before hanging up his France boots. Still, he paid tribute to the former Lens youth product by acknowledging his immense career and maturity.
Varane is the fourth member of Les Bleus’ 2018 World Cup-winning squad to retire from international football, after Blaise Matuidi, Steve Mandanda and Hugo Lloris. The latter two confirmed their international retirements following the World Cup final defeat to Argentina.
GFFN | Bastien Cheval
