Valverde Opens Up About Injury Struggles Ahead of Uruguay Duties
Real Madrid captain Federico Valverde has shared that he is still experiencing muscle discomfort following an injury sustained during the match against Barcelona. This raises concerns for manager Jose Mourinho as the November international break approaches.
The Uruguayan midfielder has arrived in Montevideo to join his national team in preparation for upcoming matches against Argentina and the Dominican Republic. However, he admitted that he has not fully recovered.
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This situation comes at a challenging time for Real Madrid, which has 18 players currently away on international duty and is eager to avoid any further injury complications.
Notably, Mourinho had already raised concerns regarding his squad’s condition after the team’s victory over Valencia, stating that several players are facing significant fatigue.
Valverde Confirms Ongoing Discomfort Following Injury
Valverde’s issues trace back to Real Madrid’s Clasico victory over Barcelona on October 25, where he sustained a muscle strain and had to exit the game early in the second half.
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Since then, he has continued to feel discomfort, missing the match against Racing Santander and remaining on the bench for the game versus AEK.
Valverde admits he is not completely fit. (Photo by Milos Bicanski/Getty Images)
He made his return to the starting lineup against Valencia, despite not being at full fitness.
Speaking to Sport 890 (h/t Mundo Deportivo), he admitted to his physical state upon arriving in Montevideo, while also expressing his enthusiasm for playing for Uruguay.
“I’m still feeling a bit of discomfort and I’m not 100% fit, but you always have to come up for the national team – it’s always good to be here.
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“I was really looking forward to coming and spending time with my teammates on a day-to-day basis,” stated the Real Madrid captain.
Valverde Embraces His Role as Right-Back
The Real Madrid captain also touched upon his ongoing deployment at right-back, a key position in Mourinho’s tactical setup.
While Valverde has filled this role before, it appears to be more of a permanent assignment under the Portuguese coach.
Valverde emphasizes his commitment to Real Madrid. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
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Valverde conveyed his readiness to embrace the demands of this new role.
“I prepare myself to play wherever the manager wants me to play. At the moment I’m playing at full-back and I’m preparing to do well there and to be the best in my position,” he affirmed.
He also emphasized the importance of facing different challenges for his growth as a player.
“I like to challenge myself day in, day out, to seek out new challenges and goals, and this is one of them – I’m going to give it my all.
“Then, with the national team, if I’m called upon to play in another position, I’ll work as hard as I can,” concluded Valverde.
