Federico Valverde is now an indispensable figure at Real Madrid, yet there was a time when the Uruguayan midfielder genuinely feared being expelled from the club.
Currently in the form of his life, especially ahead of the crucial Champions League clashes against Bayern Munich, Valverde recently shared a surprising anecdote. He admitted that a particular incident once left him terrified of being dismissed by the Whites.
«I’ve injured a few goalkeepers in my time,» Valverde recounted on the Terapia Picante podcast. However, one specific incident involving a prominent name caused him immense anxiety. «I injured Luca Zidane’s shoulder. I wanted the ground to swallow me whole; I thought they would kick me out – I had injured Zidane’s son.»
The 27-year-old’s powerful shots are a menace not just to opposing goalkeepers, but Valverde himself expresses surprise at his own strength. Having evolved from his initial nickname ‘El Pajarito’ (The Little Bird) to ‘El Halcón’ (The Falcon), he remarked, «I have very thin legs; I don’t know where I get so much power in them.»
«What Have I Gotten Myself Into?» Valverde’s Doubts About Joining Real
Over his six years with Real Madrid’s senior squad, Valverde has built an impressive career. However, the transition from Penarol in Uruguay to Spain was far from easy for the midfielder. Even Real Madrid Castilla, where he spent a year before being loaned to Deportivo La Coruña for a season, presented a vastly different world.
«It was incredibly embarrassing; it completely wore me out. I thought, ‘I don’t know what I’m doing here’,» Valverde reminisced about his early days in Real Madrid’s youth team. «When I arrived in the parking lot, I noticed my Castilla teammates had really fancy cars, and I could barely afford a decent one, even though I had already played in the first division for Penarol.»
He began to ponder, «What have I gotten myself into? I went into the changing room and saw genuinely expensive designer clothes there,» Valverde continued. «I didn’t even want to undress, or I undressed very quickly so no one would see me. It was a rude awakening.»
Valverde’s Match-Winning Contributions
Today, Valverde is widely regarded as a legitimate successor to club legend Toni Kroos, a sentiment reinforced not just by his adoption of the iconic number 8 jersey. He has become indispensable for head coach Carlo Ancelotti, consistently delivering match-winning performances. His impactful displays, including significant contributions in crucial Champions League fixtures and recent league successes, underscore his vital role. Valverde’s contract in Madrid extends until 2029.
Federico Valverde: Performance Statistics 2025/26
| Competition | Games | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| LaLiga | 28 | 4 | 7 |
| Champions League | 11 | 3 | 4 |
| Copa del Rey | 1 | — | — |
| Supercopa | 2 | 1 | 1 |