Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has praised Real Madrid centre-back Raphael Varane after he put in a solid performance against Netherlands last night during their 2-0 victory.
Varane and Mourinho used to work together during their days in Spain, and it was in fact Mourinho he brought Varane for Madrid from French side Lens back in 2011, beating Sir Alex Ferguson to his signature.
Despite only being 20-years-old, Mourinho was confident that Varane could be first-team material, and he threw him right into his starting XI at the Bernabeu and the now-Chelsea boss believes he is the best young centre-back in the world right now.
“I think he is the best young central defender in the world. Already I think he’s the best,” he told Yahoo.
“A young player must be somebody who plays in the World Cup for the first time.
“These are players like Hazard, Neymar and Rafa Varane. Maybe I forget some others.”
These recent comments may spark rumours linking Mourninho with an audacious bid for Varane in the Summer, although The Blues have already snapped up Kurt Zouma from St Etienne.
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles
