Mourinho Adds Mikel, Robben, Zouma, Varane To His Promoted Youth List

New Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has listed Super Eagles skipper Mikel Obi amongst the 55 young player he handed first team football in his managerial career.

The 29-year-old was one of the 17 players the Portuguese tactician handed first team appearances to in his two stints at the club.

However, Mikel was already playing senior first-team football at Norwegian club Lyn Oslo before joining Chelsea in 2006.
Mourinho also named 21 players from the Real Madrid squad who flourished under his guidance.

The Portuguese tactician signed Mikel who is in his tenth season at Chelsea from Lyn Oslo in 2006 for £16m.

The 29-year-old Nigerian remains at Stamford Bridge currently and could move if he is deemed surplus to requirement.

Mourinho also claimed to have promoted six players from FC Porto, Carlos Alberto, Bruno Morais, Pedro Oliveira, Reinaldo Garcia, Joca and Hugo Luz;Diogo Luis and Geraldo Alves from Benfica; Nuno Laranjeiro and Joao Paulo Andrade during his spell at Uniao Leiria.

He included Arjen Robben, Lassana Diarra, Sam Hutchinson, Jimmy Smith, Michael Woods, Anthony Grant, Ben Sahar, Steven Watt, Lenny Pidgeley, Kurt Zouma, Lewis Baker, Dominic Solanke, John Swift,Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Andreas Christensen and Bertrand Traore as the Chelsea youth he promoted.

At Inter Milan Mourinho listed Davide Santon, Marko Arnautovic, Alen Stevanovic, Mario Balotelli, Luca Caldirola, Giulio Donati and Rene Krhin.

While they were 21 from Real Madrid. They are Raphael Varane, Alvaro Morata, Casemiro, Nacho,Jese,Joselu,Tomas Mejias, Omar Mascarel, Fabinho, Pedro Mendes, Jose Rodriguez, Denis Cherishev and Pablo Sarabia.

Others are Juan Carlos, Diego Lorente, Alex Fernandez, David Mateos, Jesus Fernandez Collado, Antonio Adan, Fernando Pacheco Flores and Jorge Casado.

Source: Complete Sports Nigeria