Varane: “Mourinho brought out the best in me.

Raphaël Varane recently made an appearance on The Bridge, the podcast co-hosted by his fellow Frenchman Aurélien Tchouaméni, where he reflected on his illustrious career. A significant portion of the conversation was dedicated to his time at Real Madrid and the pivotal role that former manager José Mourinho played in his development.

Mourinho’s Influence

Varane expressed deep gratitude towards Mourinho, who signed him for Real Madrid in 2011.

I can only be grateful to him,” Varane said. “Because even though Zizou (Zinedine Zidane) called me initially, it was Mourinho who ultimately brought me to Madrid. When I arrived, he told me: ‘I only want one thing: for an hour and a half every day, you give it your all. Don’t worry about the rest, you’ll improve, I’ll take care of it. Relax.’”

During his first season, Varane played sporadically, often featuring in games where Real Madrid had already secured qualification or in Copa del Rey matches. However, these opportunities allowed him to grow under the guidance of Mourinho without the immense pressure that came with starting every week.

Competing with Legends

Varane’s path to becoming a regular starter was anything but easy. With club legends Pepe and Sergio Ramos commanding the central defense, the young Frenchman faced stiff competition. Despite a promising debut season, Varane admitted that he struggled during his second year.

I had a good first season, but then more was expected of me,” Varane explained. “I went a bit overboard and didn’t feel comfortable. I didn’t feel good.”

Mourinho’s Tough Love

It was then that Mourinho, known for his straightforward and demanding approach, intervened. Varane recalled a memorable conversation with the Portuguese coach that served as a turning point.

“One day, at the beginning of the season, he called me. The team hadn’t 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 annoyed. I told him it wasn’t easy because I wasn’t playing, and the start of the season had been difficult.”

Despite the harsh words, Mourinho quickly followed up with an opportunity that could make or break Varane’s career.

“He then asked me if I was ready to play the following Wednesday. It was against Manchester City, and I started ahead of Sergio Ramos. If I made a mistake, it was all over. I would have likely been loaned out.”