Raphael Varane became one of the best center-backs in World Football in Real Madrid between 2011 and 2021 after he was signed by Jose Mourinho, but he revealed that they had a tense relationship at the start of his enchantment
Former Real Madrid star Raphael Varane has revealed how his old manager Jose Mourinho once made him angry during their time in the Bernabeu to burn brutally “useless” after him. Varane was signed by “The Special One” as a teenager in 2011 and played two seasons among him.
The former defender of Manchester United took some time to develop in the Spanish capital and initially struggled before playing time he became a supporting pillar in the team and one of the best center-backs in the world for a decade-long spell at the club.
His best performances for Madrid came under Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane, but Varane remembers a time when Mourinho gave him some difficult love at the start of his career in the Bernabeu after he had produced a number of Under-Par displays at the start of the 2012-2013 campaign.
Varane said he was “shocked” and irritated after he was beaten by the former boss of Chelsea and Manchester United during a conversation in the gym.
“One day, at the start of the season, he called me,” Varane said on the Podcast The Bridge. “The team had not started well, and I remember it clearly – we were in the gym. He looked at me and said,” But why are you useless? ” I was shocked and irritated.
But he said that Mourinho's brutal approach eventually put out the best in him, because he had the opportunity to talk about Sergio Ramos against Manchester City in a Champions League group game, before he became the first choice and suddenly his career began to flourish.
“He then asked me if I was ready to play the next Wednesday,” Varane continued. “It was against Manchester City, and I started for Sergio Ramos. If I made a mistake, it would all be over. I would probably be lent.
“After that game I recovered and started the season again as planned. The second half of that season was the best half of my career. Mourinho brought the best to me.”
Varane finally played 360 times for Madrid and brought some colossal performances in the defense that helped the team to win three La Liga titles, a Copa del Rey, four Champions League titles, three Spanish Super Cups, Three Uefa Super Cups and four FIFA Club World Cup.
Eventually he left Madrid and joined Manchester United in 2021 for around £ 40 million, although he had difficulty reproducing his best versions in Old Trafford and fought with constant injuries.
He also clashed with another manager at United, because he was unable to see the eye to eye with Erik ten Hag, who was fired in October. In 2023, Varane was dropped by the Dutchman for a few months, the manager said it was for “tactical” reasons. But Varane revealed that they fell out after he told him that he did not agree with his methods.
“We had a robust discussion. We told each other a few truths, but then I didn't play for almost two months. I said I did not agree with certain ways to do things about the relationship between him and the team. It was not something I thought it was good for the team because some players were not satisfied.
“It was not good at terms of the relationship with the coach. He said,” Okay, I heard what you said, “and then I didn't play.”
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