'Stupid!' - Varane criticised over France retirement

Cameron Smith

• 3 Feb 2023 11:28 GMT
• 5 min read

Manchester United defender Raphael Varane has been hit with criticism over his decision to retire from international football.

Varane, 29, announced that he will no longer play for the French national team on February 2, just over a month after he was involved in the World Cup Final loss to Argentina.

The former Real Madrid star won the 2018 tournament and racked up a total of 93 caps for his nation, scoring five goals.

READ: Man Utd handed HUGE Varane boost

However, he will not be able to add to his tally after announcing his decision to retire from France duty, a move that has been heavily criticised in his homeland.

What has been said?

RMC Sport's Jerome Rothen cannot believe the decision and has labelled Varane's retirement as "a disaster."

Speaking on his show 'Rothen Ignites', he said: "I think that at this age and when you play in a club that allows you to stay at the very highest level, you have a duty. It's about bringing your talent to your country.

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"He has a track record as long as his arm, bravo! He won the most beautiful competition (the 2018 World Cup, editor's note). We saw again all his contribution on the last World Cup. There were skeptics because he was coming back from injury, but he performed very well. But I say to myself: what a decision! It's a disaster to hear that, to no longer wear the jersey of the selection at 29 years old."

Rothen continued: "The France team is the best nation in recent years. We are at the top. It is a source of pride to represent your country. It's a duty to represent your country when you're 29 and your club allows you to stay at the top level. Look at Olivier Giroud. He wonders but he did not say he was stopping. You can have a discussion with your coach. I think there's a lack when you don't represent your country. He can't do that! I do not understand the players who say they stop, while the team of France has allowed them to have beautiful contracts at the club."

To conclude, Rothen spoke directly to Varane: "Raphael, do not forget that you have brought a lot. He put the players in his pocket. He has a crazy importance in this group. I just put a caveat: if he stops at 29 years old it is because the atmosphere must not be so good as that in the team of France. Which player in the France team stopped at 29?"

What has Varane said?

The Lens academy graduate posted a very lengthy message on social media to announce his decision to retire.

It read: "Representing our great country for a decade has been one of the greatest honours of my life. Each time I wore this special blue jersey, I felt immense pride. The duty to give everything, to play with my heart and to win every time we enter the field.

"I have been thinking about it for several months and decided that it was the right time for me to retire from international football.

"As a child, I remember following France 98, this team, these players who made us experience indescribable emotions. I dreamed of doing like our heroes and, 20 years later, I had one of the best experiences of my life, one that made me really proud.

"We brought home the Cup!! I will never forget him. I still feel every single emotion I felt that day, July 15, 2018. It was one of the greatest and most memorable moments of my life.

"This victory that we won together would never have been possible without the support of Didier Deschamps, of each of the members of the management and of our staff during these years, of my teammates who defended our jersey in each of our matches.

"But more importantly, this victory would not have been possible without the support of each of you along this path. Your enthusiasm, the celebrations and the memories of our return to France will remain etched in my mind forever.

"Even after the defeat in the final last year, with certainly a great run, you welcomed us as heroes when we returned. To each and every one of you, a thousand times THANK YOU!

"I will miss these moments with you for sure, but the time has come for the new generation to take over. We have a group of talented young players who are ready to take over, who deserve a chance and who need you.

"From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Rapha."