Varane was amazed by Tchouameni and backed Pogba

France and Manchester United centre-back Raphael Varane praised Aurelien Tchouameni's quick adaptation at Real Madrid and gave his public support to another France team-mate, Paul Pogba, the victim of a bizarre blackmail scandal.

"First of all, I congratulate him on his adaptation to a club like Real Madrid, I know how difficult it is," Varane said of Tchouameni, speaking to the press ahead of the France-Austria Nations League match.

"He's a complete player," continued the former Real Madrid player, "he knows how to defend and has the ability to organise the game, he's been asking for the ball since the first game in the national team and he's very mature for his age. What he is doing is incredible and I hope he continues like this".

Varane also spoke of his "friend" Pogba, absent from the national team with a knee injury and affected by alleged blackmail involving his own brother Mathias, who is in custody.

"I am not going to talk about the judicial part, but as a person he is a friend and I support him (...). He is an extraordinary player and we want to see him on the pitch".

The defender also regretted that there are 14 injured players in the squad in a schedule that is even more difficult due to the World Cup in Qatar in November.

"I'm not surprised. We've been saying it for years, all the coaches have been saying it and this season it's even more intense. But we are going to adapt," he concluded.