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"The hardest thing was to call Didier Deschamps", says Varane about his international retirement

2023-02-05T19:37:43.894Z


This Sunday, the Canal Football Club broadcast an exclusive interview with Raphaël Varane. The Manchester United tricolor international defender announced this week his decision to retire in Blue. He explains his choice.


In an interview given to Canal Football Club, the vice-captain of the Blues Raphaël Varane explains his choice to say stop, at 29, and after 93 selections.

To discover

  • The complete calendar of the Blues

On the reasons for his decision

 : “

I have decided to retire from international football.

I'm someone who really gives 100%, it's a passion that takes me to the guts.

I eat football, I sleep football.

I gave everything, physically, psychologically.

The very high level is a washing machine... we play all the time, we never stop.

I feel like I'm suffocating, the player is eating the man.

»

On never wearing the blue jersey again

 :

I will put on the blue jersey, but not to play, to support it.

My story with the blues is wonderful, I gave it my all, when I talk about it I get chills.

I almost didn't play the last World Cup, I was devastated.

It means a lot to me and I finished the last match on the kneecaps.

(…) This is the most important decision of my career.

I live things to the full, I don't know how to do things halfway.

If I go to the French team feeling unwell because I'm thinking of my family, or because I'm fed up... (...) I left my family when I was 13, I have few time to see my relatives, when I see them I'm tired, because it's between two matches, I'm there but I'm not really there, because I think and live football.

We never disconnect

»

On the mental and physical health of the players with the multiplication of matches

 :

It is not for lack of sounding the alarm.

The greatest coaches, the greatest players in the world, everyone says so.

We are not listened to, in return we have more competition.

»

On his professionalism

 : “

There are players who take their career more lightly, who go to training and who laugh, who have more fun.

But it's my way of being, I need this rigor, to get fully involved.

(...) This explains why I was a reliable player very early on in a position that requires experience.

Today is good for me.

»

On his explanation with Didier Deschamps

 : “

The most difficult moment was calling the coach (Didier Deschamps) to talk to him about it.

He was understanding.

I think he kinda suspected that, but hoped I didn't call.

It's a personal choice, there was nothing extra-sporting.

I leave, everything is clean, everything is tidy, everything is square.

»

On his pride in having worn the colors of the France team

 : “

I am very proud.

Everything I've been through, I've been through it to the fullest, I won't change a thing.

It's a chance to be able to choose to stop, to do it while being at the top, having the feeling of having accomplished all that there was to accomplish.

Thank you, for all these emotions, for the support.

Even if I will no longer play with the Blues jersey, our love story will never end.

»

Source: lefigaro

All sports articles on 2023-02-05

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