French defender Raphael Varane retires from int'l football at age 29

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - French defender Raphael Varane retired from international football at age 29 on Thursday.

"Representing our great country for a decade has been one of the greatest honors of my life. Each time I wore this special blue jersey, I felt immense pride. The duty is 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," Varane said on Instagram.

Varane, who is now a Manchester United central defender, said that he was a kid when France won the 1998 FIFA World Cup and dreamed of bringing another World Cup to the country.

"I dreamed of doing like our heroes and, 20 years later, I had one of the most beautiful experiences of my life, one that made me really proud. We brought the World Cup home!! I will never forget it," Varane said and adding that winning the football's ultimate prize in Russia in 2018 was one of the greatest moments in his life.

He thanked France head coach Didier Deschamps, his teammates and staff, and fans for their World Cup triumph in 2018, and added that he will miss the moments that he experienced as a France player, but it is time to give his place to the new generation at Les Bleus.

The French national team on Twitter also thanked Varane for his 10-year service, during which he amassed 93 international caps and scored five goals for his nation.

Varane represented France in three FIFA World Cups; 2014, 2018, and 2022.

In addition to the 2018 World Cup success, Varane helped Les Bleus take the 2021 UEFA Nations League.

Varane is a former Real Madrid player from 2011 to 2021, won four UEFA Champions League titles, four FIFA Club World Cups, three UEFA Super Cup trophies, three Spanish La Liga titles, three Spanish Super Cups, and a Spanish Cup.

He joined Manchester United in 2021 and has a contract with the Red Devils until 2025.