Jose Mourinho reveals how close Manchester United were to signing Varane

Real Madrid snapped up Frenchman just before United could sign him

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has revealed that he signed Raphael Varane from right under Manchester United's noses back in 2011.
The Spanish giants secured the signing of the Frenchman after the defender agreed to leave Lens, and he has slowly become one of the best young centre-backs in world football, with Mourinho claiming he is the best there is.
Mourinho, who was Madrid manager at the time, has been interested in bringing the French defender to England in order to play for Chelsea, but the Portuguese man has revealed that Varane was very close to signing for Manchester United.
"Varane had one foot at Manchester United but Real Madrid are very strong and Rapha came to us," he said.
"I was on holiday and in Madrid. Zinedine Zidane arrived with a DVD and I thought 'that player, with two years' work with us, would be fantastic."
Ever since re-joining Chelsea, Mourinho has been strongly linked with signing the 21-year-old.
Written by Alex Batt