Should Raphael Varane Be Playing More for Real Madrid Than Pepe?

Thank God for Jose Mourinho. Every time we want to look into Raphael Varane's predicament at Real Madrid, we can revert back to the Portuguese coach's famous attack on Pepe when he was in charge of the club's affairs.

"It's very easy to analyse the thing with Pepe," Mourinho said during a press conference as his time in Spain wobbled to an unsatisfactory conclusion, per Marca. "His problem has a name, and that name is Raphael Varane."

Pepe had gotten involved in the tension between his coach and Iker Casillas, perhaps knowing that Mourinho was heading back to England, and it didn't sit well with the current Chelsea boss.

"It is not easy for a man aged 31 with a lot of experience behind him to be blown out of the water by a kid of 19," he continued. "The problem is very simple. Pepe's life has changed."

However, it doesn't seem Mourinho's prediction was quite nailed on because nearly two years later, we are still having the same debate: Should Varane be playing more than Pepe?

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Carlo Ancelotti is clearly not in agreement with Mourinho. The Italian's made it quite obvious that Pepe and Sergio Ramos make up his first-choice partnership in the middle of his back four.

Varane was restricted to just 12 starts in La Liga last season and was named from the off in just four Champions League matches. Maybe Pepe didn't have a problem after all.

Even this season, as Pepe ticks towards 33, the Portuguese defender still has the monopoly over his younger French teammate.

The 21-year-old has started just seven of Madrid's 19 matches in the league. But it is clear that Ancelotti is aware he needs to give Varane minutes so as not to prevent his development into the defender many expect him to become.

It's for that reason he has featured in 24 of Los Blancos' 34 fixtures in all competitions so far. He's started five out of six games in Europe and three of the four Copa del Rey matches Madrid played before exiting the competition.

An injury in the Copa clash with Atletico to Pepe has led to an extended opening for Varane. He didn't take it with both hands, with a discouraging performance against Cordoba at the weekend—not that Ramos shone, either.

When Pepe returns, it's almost certain Ancelotti will once again turn to him.

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Varane—despite being around for a few years now—does not turn 22 until April, so a few more months on the bench will not do him too much harm. As a rule, and there are exceptions—defenders tend to peak later than forwards.

When the current campaign ends, Madrid's boss will have to ask the question again: Should Varane be playing more for Pepe?

The answer will depend as much on Pepe as on Varane. If Ancelotti feels Pepe's still capable of producing regularly at the top level—like John Terry at Chelsea—then he's likely to place his faith in him for another 12 months.

He has to be careful, though. While he's right to base his decision on ability alone, he also needs to ensure Varane doesn't get restless and take up one of the many offers he would undoubtedly have if his agent sent a group WhatsApp to Europe's biggest clubs.

Pepe remains the present, but the future needs to be kept happy as well.