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Tag: Raphael Varane

  • Ex  Madrid defender Varane announces retirement

    Ex  Madrid defender Varane announces retirement

    France’s World Cup-winning defender Raphael Varane announced his retirement from football at the age of 31 on Wednesday, bringing down the curtain on his successful career after suffering a serious knee injury.

    Varane made 93 appearances for France from 2013-22, playing a key role in their victory at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, as well as their runners-up finish four years later in Qatar. He retired from international football in 2023.

    He began his club career at Ligue 1 side Lens, before joining Real Madrid in 2011, where he played 360 times and won three La Liga titles and four Champions League trophies in a trophy-laden spell.

    Varane joined United in 2021, making 95 appearances in all competitions for the English side and helping them win the League Cup in 2023 and FA Cup in 2024, before moving to Serie A club Como in July where he suffered a knee injury on his debut.

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    “I have fallen and risen a thousand times, and this time, it’s the moment to stop and hang my boots up with my final game winning a trophy at Wembley,” Varane wrote in a post on Instagram, referencing United’s FA Cup win in May.

    “I have no regrets, I wouldn’t change a thing. I have won more than I could have even dreamed of, but beyond the accolades and trophies, I am proud that no matter what, I have stuck to my principles of being sincere and have tried to leave everywhere better than I found it.”

    Varane added that he would remain at Como in a non-playing role.

    “A new life begins off the pitch. I will remain with Como. Just without using my boots and shin pads. Something I am looking forward to sharing more about soon,” Varane said.

    In April, the defender said the concussions he had suffered throughout his career had “damaged his body” and stressed the importance of creating more awareness among players on the dangers of heading.

  • Ronaldo deserves Ballon d’or – Allegri

    Massimiliano Allegri believes Cristiano Ronaldo deserves to win the Ballon D’Or, following media reports that the forward has not been short-listed for the award’s final three for the first time since 2010.

    The Portugal international has won the prize, run by French magazine France Football and awarded to the world’s best player annually, five times and finished as runner-up five times since 2007.

    Media have reported that the podium for this year’s prize would be made up of Paris St Germain’s Kylian Mbappe and Luka Modric and Raphael Varane of Real Madrid.

    The winner would be named at a ceremony in Paris on Dec. 3.

    “He is doing well and yesterday he trained well. For what he has done, as I’ve said several times, he will deserve the Ballon D’Or,” Allegri said.

    Allegri shot down suggestions that his side were facing an injury crisis in midfield ahead of the visit of SPAL in Serie A on Saturday.

    Read Also: Ronaldo fantastic, Messi better — Etebo

    Sami Khedira and Emre Can were sidelined with injuries, but their absence does not concern the coach.

    “We will need to play with who we have on ground.

    “Blaise Matuidi returned today because he needed a few days of rest.

    ‘’We have Miralem Pjanic and Rodrigo Bentancur available; we will find a solution with who we have. We are not in an emergency,” he said.

    Allegri confirmed that Mattia Perin would start in goal alongside Ronaldo and Mario Mandzukic in attack.

    Paulo Dybala was likely to be rested, having only returned from international duty on Thursday.

    Allegri was encouraged by the forward’s development after he scored his first goal for Argentina against Mexico on Tuesday.

    “It’s a step forward for him, he is constantly growing, this year he has started very well and he is in a great physical and mental state.

    “His development must not stop; it depends on how much he wants it,” said Allegri.

    Juventus hold a six-point advantage over second-placed Napoli at the top of Serie A.

    The club from Turin remains unbeaten this season with 11 wins and a draw from 12 games, while SPAL are in 15th with 13 points.

  • Injuries to Nacho, Casemiro add to Real Madrid’s woes

    As Real Madrid’s injury crisis deepens, defender Nacho Fernandez will miss two months and midfielder Casemiro around three weeks, reports in Spain indicated on Monday.

    Both players were substituted after sustaining injuries during Real Madrid’s 4-2 La Liga win at Celta Vigo on Sunday.

    Real Madrid said in a statement on Monday that Nacho had suffered a dislocation in his right knee and Casemiro had sprained his ankle.

    The European champions are already missing defenders Marcelo, Raphael Varane and Dani Carvajal through injury, as well as striker Mariano Diaz.

  • Russia 2018: France sends Uruguay home

    France are through to the semi-finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup after securing a 2-0 victory over Uruguay.

    Raphael Varane headed France into a first-half lead, and a terrible mistake from goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, saw him fail to save a shot from Antoine Griezmann, booking Les Blues to their first semi-finals since 2006.

    The world was treated to a dull footballing from the twenty-two players on the pitch, but the French have Hugo Lloris to thank for producing a world-class save Martin Caceres, shortly after Varane’s goal in the first half. Diego Godin blasted the rebound he got from that save.

    The second half started with France continuing to control possession, but they were gifted the goal that made certain of their victory.

    There seemed little danger when Griezmann let fly from the edge of the area but Muslera misjudged the flight of the ball, flapped at the shot, and saw it loop slowly over the line.

    Read Also: Russia 2018: Brazil beat Mexico to reach quarter-finals

    It was Griezmann’s third goal of the 2018 World Cup, his first from open play.

    The drama in Nizhny Novgorod continued when when Kylian Mbappe fell to the floor. Uruguay skipper Diego Godin gestured with the teenager to get up, pulling him from the turf. This caused a little fight involing most of the players and saw French coach Didier Deschamps come onto the pitch to try to calm tempers.

    A likely repeat of the 1998 FIFA World Cup final will happen again in Saint Petersburg on Tuesday 10th July, if Brazil beat Belgium in the next quarter-final match, as France await the winner between the Samba Boys and star-studded Belgium

  • 10 candidates for football’s 2018 best player award – FIFA

    The 2018 men’s world footballer of the year will be picked from a list of 10 players instead of from a list of 23 as in the past, global ruling body FIFA said on Wednesday.

    The players in question will be selected by a 13-strong panel that includes legends such as Brazil’s Ronaldo and Germany’s Lothar Matthaeus.

    National team captains and coaches, media and fans then elect the best player in a poll between July 23 and August 10. The winner will be crowned at The Best FIFA Football Awards on September 24 in London.

    Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have won the prestigious award – now called The Best FIFA Men’s Player and formerly known as FIFA World Player and Ballon d’Or – five times each over the past 10 years.

    Awards will also be given out for best women’s player, best men’s and women’s coach, best goalkeeper and best goal, and there is also a fair-play prize.

    Read Also:FIFA sanctions hosts Russia, three others, warns Egypt over Salah

    The Newsmen reports that in 2014, Argentina had three nominees in Angel Di Maria, Javier Mascherano and Lionel Messi, while their opponents in Sunday’s final, Germany, have four.

    Mats Hummels, Toni Kroos, Phillip Lahm and Thomas Muller are the players nominated from Joachim Low’s side.

    Colombia’s James Rodriguez, Brazil’s Neymar and Arjen Robben of Netherlands complete the 10-man shortlist.

    Fifa has also announced the nominees for the Golden Glove competition, awarded to the best goalkeeper at the World Cup.

    Costa Rica’s Keylor Navas, Germany’s Manuel Neuer and Argentina’s Sergio Romero will compete for the prize.

    Meanwhile, Netherlands’ Memphis Depay and Paul Pogba and Raphael Varane of France were nominated for the best young player at the tournament.