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3. Raphael Varane
He’s one of the best defenders in the world and he’s only 20, yes twenty. Raphael Varane was a revelation for Real Madrid in the 2012/13 season. Despite his tender age, his performances saw even the greatest of attacking players; deflated. It would be fair to say, he had Lionel Messi in his pocket for quite some time.
Varane started his senior career with French club Lens. His obvious talent alerted the top clubs, but once again, it was Real Madrid who came out on top to sign the French international in 2011. His impact, despite being a teenager, was immediate. He caught the eyes of many top players, including Rio Ferdinand who tweeted about his rare but flawless technique of tackling.
The following season he was seen accomplished enough to replace the likes of Pepe and Sergio Ramos. He made headlines by scoring on his El Clasico debut against Barcelona. His defensive composure, reading of the game and waiting on tackles made him stand-out straightaway.
His performances against Manchester United and Galatasaray in the Champions League made him a regular starter at the age of 19. Few years down the road, he will top this list. Mark the words.
