Man Utd: Raphael Varane provides retirement reason

Jacque Talbot

• 4 Feb 2023 12:26 GMT
• 3 min read

Raphael Varane has clarified why he opted to retire from international football.

The Manchester United defender announced that he would be stepping away from the France national side this week.

And in the wake of the revelation, the former Real Madrid centre-back expressed precisely why he decided that he did not wish to continue his legacy in international football.

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Speaking to Canal+ Varane discussed the reasons for his decision to call time. He said: “I gave everything, physically and mentally. But the very highest level is like a washing machine, you play all the time and you never stop.

"We have overloaded schedules and play non-stop. Right now, I feel like I’m suffocating and that [Varane] the player is gobbling up [Varane] the man.”

The Manchester United defender earned 93 caps for Les Bleus, which is 13th on the all-time list. He managed to cover from injury in time to be part of the France squad that reached the final of the World Cup in December, while he won the competition with his national side in 2018 in Russia, as well as a Nations League win in 2021.

Varane exits France amid captain speculation

It was thought that Varane would have been the next captain of France after Hugo Lloris confirmed his international retirement last month, so the news came as a surprise, especially given the Frenchman is only 29 years old.

Former France star Jerome Rothen hit out at Varane, claiming he has made a 'stupid' decision to stop representing his country at such a young age - but for the most part, there have been well-wishes.

Rothen also speculated that Varane's retirement could be a result of a poor atmosphere in the France dressing room.

Varane follows the likes of Lloris and Karim Benzema, who have too called time on their France playing career.