VIDEO. “I will stop the French team at the end of the season”: Valentin Porte announces his international retirement

Valentin Porte lors du dernier Euro remporté par les Bleus en Allemagne. MAXPPP – Tom Weller

Le capitaine du Montpellier Handball a annoncé la nouvelle en marge de France-Argentine (32-23), jeudi soir, à la Sud de France Arena.

"I've been thinking about this for a long time. We might as well announce it here, in Montpellier, on familiar ground. At the end of the season I will stop the French team." Valentin Porte surprised everyone on Thursday evening, a few minutes after the final whistle of France-Argentina (32-23), announcing his international retirement. 

"It'was probably my last match (the penultimate in fact since the Tricolores play again on Saturday against Egypt) with the Blues in Montpellier. It’s time to turn the page and pass the baton."

All titles with the Blues

Arriving in the French team in 2013, Valentin Porte will have won everything with his selection. From the Worlds to the Olympic Games via the Euro a month and a half ago. Captain a few months before handing over the armband to Luka Karabatic, he now hopes to go out "in style, next summer in Paris, with Niko (Karabatic) and Vincent (Gérard)".