Mourinho: Real Madrid’s Varane is world’s best young centre-back

Chelsea boss Mourinho: Real Madrid’s Varane is world’s best young centre-back

In an exclusive interview with Yahoo, Jose Mourinho has nominated Real Madrid and France star Raphael Varane as the best young centre-back in the world.

Mourinho worked with Varane at Real Madrid last season, installing him as a regular in the first XI, and is full of admiration for the impressive 20-year-old.

Discussing his tips for young players to watch at this summer's World Cup after announcing a deal with Yahoo which will see the new Global Ambassador for Football for 2014 provide exclusive analysis on the summer tournament, Mourinho highlighted the quality of his former charge.

“A young player must be somebody who plays in the World Cup for the first time so we cannot choose a player for example who is 23, 24-years-old who has played already because that is not the concept of a young player,” Mourinho said at a launch event.

“A young player who goes for the World Cup for the first time, I would say [Eden] Hazard for sure, Neymar, Rafa Varane and maybe I forget some others but direct to my mind comes Varane, Neymar and Eden and I apologise if I forgot any other one.

“I think he [Varane] is the best central defender in the world, a young one I think he’s the best. Already, yes. I think he’s the best.”

Mourinho's Chelsea duo of John Terry and Gary Cahill have formed arguably the best central defensive partnership in the Premier League.

Many would see the pacy, strong and technically accomplished Varane as the ideal long-term successor for the 33-year-old Terry.