Real Madrid has officially confirmed that Federico Valverde, the team’s vice-captain and midfield core, is hurt. The club’s medical report says that tests showed damage to the semimembranosus muscle in his right leg.
The team hasn’t given a return schedule yet, so it’s still unclear how bad the injury is and how long it will take to heal. Los Blancos now have to deal with this unexpected setback.
Before, head coach Xabi Alonso had intended to bring Valverde back into midfield to cover injuries in defence and midfield, especially after Arnold was injured. Valverde was put in defence for a brief time since there weren’t enough right-backs.
Valverde was expected to return to his usual midfield role now that Arnold was back. Alonso was upset that the accident happened at the worst possible time, though.
The new coach’s original aim was to rebuild the club slowly to full strength, but bad luck has again gotten in the way of that plan.
The Iron Man of Real Madrid Goes Down
It was a shock when Valverde got hurt. For a long time, he has been known as the team’s “iron man” because he can play many positions and always performs well. He plays a lot more minutes than most of his teammates, making him Real Madrid’s most reliable player.
Valverde has been one of the most active players in the last two seasons, according to Club World Cup data. He has already played 21 times this season, scoring two goals and setting up four more. This shows how strong and vital he is.
Signs Of Tiredness Are Clear, And A Midfield Reshuffle Is Unavoidable
Valverde’s tiredness has been worsening over the last few weeks, which is an apparent concern for both the player and the coach. Alonso now has to change the midfield because he is out of the game.
To make matters worse, Aurélien Tchouaméni has also sustained a similar injury, meaning even more players will be missing from the team.
The International Break Gives Everyone A Much-Needed Break
Real Madrid will have a short time to rest and get used to things thanks to the forthcoming international break. If Valverde’s injury isn’t too bad, he could play again after the break.
Real Madrid has had many injuries since the start of the season. Alonso will need both time and patience to get the team back to full strength and stability.
