France's rising star (Video)

January 30th 2013 saw the first 'El Clasico' of the new year. It wasn't your typical 'El Clasico' with only two goals (neither scored by Messi or Ronaldo) and all 22-men managed to avoid sendings off - remarkable I know.

The Copa Del Rey semi-final did however did show me something. Before the game, I tweeted 'Real Madrid's back four will get torn apart tonight' and I'll be first to admit - I was wrong. 

Real Madrid's, 19-year-old French centre back, Raphael Varane, put in the performance of a lifetime. He cleared up off of his own line after a dreadful back pass by experienced defender Ricardo Carvalho. Also, more impressively, he had four times Ballon d'Or winner and arguably the best ever footballer, Lionel Messi, in his pocket for the full 90 minutes. It was the first time this season I had seen the little Argentine has a quiet game and also the first time I have seen him handled so well.

On top of the sensational defending, Varane popped up with a headed equalizer in the 81st minute to cancel our Cesc Fabregas' earlier opener. 

On this games viewing, I can safely say Raphael Varane is a player who very soon will be regarded as world class. At such a young age he is being compared to French legend, Pascal Cygan - or was it Lillian Thuram?

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