Raphaël Varane, former Real Madrid defender, has opened up about a tough moment in his career when football manager José Mourinho called him ‘useless.’ This happened during their time together at the Spanish club.
Varane joined Real Madrid in 2011 from Lens when Mourinho was preparing for his second season as manager. Speaking about his experience, Varane revealed that Mourinho had clear expectations from the start.
“When I arrived, he told me, ‘I just want one thing—for an hour and a half every day, give your best. The rest, don’t worry, you will improve, and I will guide you.’”
During his first season, Varane played in about 15 matches, mostly in less important games. Mourinho slowly helped him develop instead of rushing him into big matches. However, by the next season, expectations were higher, and Varane struggled with his performance.
“He is someone I respect a lot. He is charismatic, and one day he asked me, ‘Why are you useless?’ I was shocked because his words hit me hard. I told him I was finding it difficult since I wasn’t playing much, and it had been a tough start to the season.”
Despite the harsh words, Mourinho’s tough love helped Varane grow as a player. He went on to win 18 trophies with Real Madrid before moving to Manchester United in 2021 in a £42 million transfer.
Varane’s story shows how tough moments in football can push players to become better. Even a strong comment from a coach can be a turning point in a player’s journey.
