The debate with Mourinho changed Varane's life.

A heated argument with manager Jose Mourinho became a turning point in Raphael Varane's career, helping him become one of the world's top central defenders.

Varane has retired.

Recently, Varane shared this memorable story on the podcast 'The Bridge', where he and Aurelien Tchouameni recounted key moments in their careers. Beginning the story, Varane didn't hesitate to express his gratitude to Mourinho, who played a crucial role in his journey at Real Madrid.

"If it was 'Zizou' who called me, he would just bring me in. But it was Mourinho who brought me back later. When I first joined, he only asked one thing: 'You just need to give your all for an hour and a half each day, I'll take care of the rest.' And in my first season, I only played in games where I was guaranteed a place, but he helped me improve step by step."

The difficulty stemmed from having to compete for a place with legends like Pepe and Sergio Ramos, which put pressure on Varane. "My first season was pretty good, but after that, people expected more. And I felt a lot of pressure," the former French center-back said.

What helped Varane change? It was an uncompromising conversation with Mourinho. "One day, even though the team hadn't had a good start, he called me and asked me straight: 'Why are you so useless?' I was really angry at the time, but he wouldn't leave me alone, continuing to question me: 'Are you ready to play the game on Wednesday?'" Varane recalled.

The match between Real Madrid and Manchester City that followed was an opportunity for Varane to prove himself. "If I made a mistake, it would all be over. I would be loaned out. I played, my body was exhausted, but I had an excellent performance," Varane shared.

And after that match, Varane's career entered a new chapter, as Mourinho helped him rediscover his form and become one of Real Madrid's outstanding central defenders.

Source: https://znews.vn/cuoc-tranh-luan-voi-mourinho-lam-doi-doi-varane-post1541111.html