Raphael Varane praises Zinedine Zidane amid talk of Jose Mourinho reunion at Manchester United

Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane is eager to keep working under Zinedine Zidane at the Santiago Bernabeu, despite reports suggesting Jose Mourinho will try to sign the defender if appointed Manchester United manager.

Mourinho remains heavily linked with the job at Old Trafford as Louis van Gaal finds himself under mounting pressure following an increasingly disappointing season.

It was the Portuguese coach who signed Varane for Real in 2011, going on to hand him a starting role in his XI despite his tender years. Upon his return to Chelsea in 2013, Mourinho described the France international as the best young defender in world football, fuelling talk of a reunion at Stamford Bridge.

The Sun claimed Varane is become United's first transfer target should Mourinho replace Van Gaal. But the centre-half is focused on building a long-term relationship with Real coach Zidane, believing the manager's affinity with the Spanish giants means their understanding is already extremely strong.

"He is a coach who loves the sport, and who likes to play attacking football, he likes to play quick possession football," Varane said in an interview with Uefa.com. "He has added in more physical work in the training sessions, which is allowing us to press higher up the field.

"He is close to his players. He likes to chat with us and show us videos so we can improve the finer details. The fact that he was a player and that he is a young coach means that we have a close relationship. When I was a child I saw him play and he has got an excellent reputation throughout the world, and especially in France."

Zidane is already well aware of rumours regarding Mourinho's interest in Varane but shut down talk of a move, insisting the 22-year-old is the future of Real.

"We have seen [in the press] that Mourinho wants him. It is normal. He knew him perfectly because he brought him to Real Madrid," Zidane said.

"I spoke to Mourinho when he was here [to advise him about his signing] but he made the decision to sign him. What I can say us that he is a Real Madrid player and I want him to stay with us all his life because he's the future of Real Madrid."