Real Madrid‘s season is not going well. The results speak for themselves, and the team could end April without a chance of winning any of the titles it was fighting for just ten days ago. It is already out of the Champions League, four points behind Barça in La Liga, and will face its eternal rival in the Copa del Rey in 10 days.
The Whites have been exposed in this tie against Arsenal, with a 5-1 aggregate score that makes it clear that this is not Real Madrid’s year, with shortcomings and weaknesses in all areas. Amidst the carnage, there are players who have saved themselves with their great performances throughout the season. One of them has been Fede Valverde.
Valverde has become a benchmark, but to get there he has had to fight for every minute he has played. The Uruguayan has become an all-rounder who leads his team from any position and does so with a low profile, but crucial. A low profile reminiscent of Toni Kroos, who named him his successor at Cibeles during the ‘Decimoquinta’ celebrations. Valverde inherited the number 8 shirt worn by the German during his time at Madrid to honor him.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti praised Uruguayan Fede Valverde, saying he is “the most complete player in football.” “Fede is a complete and very important player. He can cover many positions and does so perfectly. It’s very difficult to find a right-back like him. For me, it’s difficult to see the best position for the team in every game. We may need him more as a full-back in one game and as a pivot in another,” he said.
Valverde has become indispensable to Ancelotti. Whether at full-back, in midfield, or on the wing, the Uruguayan is a fixture in the starting eleven. Against Alavés, he brought his tally for the season to 50 games. He is the first player to reach that figure in the 2024-25 season.
In addition, his name also appears at the top of the list for appearances as a starter (47) and minutes played (4,189). Behind the Uruguayan are Koundé (49 games, 46 as a starter, 4,081 minutes), Mbappé (49/46/4,007) and Luka Modric (49/23/2,376).
The Uruguayan has only missed three games this season due to physical problems: against Betis and Girona in LaLiga, and in the first leg of the Copa del Rey against Real Sociedad. Of the 13 Champions League games, he has only missed the second half against Milan and the final eight minutes against Atlético Madrid at Chamartín.