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The French international defender delivered his first interview at Stade 2 on Sunday since the end of his career.
His announcement caused a stir. After his international retirement at just 29 years old in February 2023, Raphaël Varane said goodbye to professional football a year and a half later, at the end of September 2024, worn out by injuries. Sunday November 10 for his first interview since “the most important and difficult decision to make” of his career, he looked back on his 14 years at the highest level and the start of the next.
If the 2018 coronation in Russia remains “the strongest moment” From his adventure that started one evening in September 2010 at the age of 17 with the RC Lens jersey on his back, the return play-off qualifying for the 2014 World Cup left its mark on the Northerner.
“It was also a very powerful moment and a connection with the public that we never found afterwards because it was a unique moment, outside of time.”
Raphaël Varaneat Stage 2
Pushed into retirement by one too many injuries, the four-time Champions League winner was offered a job by the Como club, promoted to Serie A, which he had just joined. A specific retraining on supporting young players to help them “to develop well, to avoid certain pitfalls and certain problems”. A way to continue our fights for the consideration of concussions and against overloaded schedules. Organizer of a 100% female training course, he also fights to eliminate gender inequalities in football as much as possible.