Raphael Varane has officially inaugurated a new training pitch bearing his name at RC Lens, the club where the former France international came through the youth academy.
The ceremony took place at midday on Monday at La Gaillette, Lens’ training centre in Avion. The pitch is the final element of a major renovation project at the facility and was opened by Varane, a key member of France’s 2018 World Cup-winning squad and one of the most recognisable players to have emerged from the club’s academy.
Varane’s return to Lens for the inauguration underlined his enduring status at the club. The new pitch, named in his honour, has been described as the “finishing touch” to the redevelopment of La Gaillette, which has served as RC Lens’ training base since 2002.
The renovation is one of the central projects within RC Lens’ “Three-Year Action Plan”, as the club continues to focus on strengthening its infrastructure and long-term foundations.
Benjamin Parrot, RC Lens’ General Manager and a former Public Relations Director at the club, said the decision to invest in the training centre reflected a deliberate choice to prioritise internal development.
“To some extent, we chose to ‘sacrifice’ transfer budget in favor of investing in our own development.”
The club is investing 7 million euros this summer in the renovation of La Gaillette. The project forms part of a wider strategy aimed at ensuring that the club’s infrastructure develops alongside its sporting ambitions.
According to L’Equipe, Varane’s inauguration of the new pitch marked the completion of the latest phase of work at the centre. For RC Lens, the redevelopment represents an emphasis on establishing stronger foundations across its strategic planning, rather than directing all available resources towards the transfer market.
La Gaillette has been used by Lens as its training centre for more than two decades. Its renovation is therefore a significant part of the club’s plans for continued development, with the newly named pitch providing the final piece of the project.
Varane remains closely associated with the Lens academy, where his football career began before he went on to become a World Cup winner with France. His name is now permanently linked with the club’s updated training facilities through the new pitch inaugurated on Monday.
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