Federico Valverde: Madrid's unexpected and beautiful surprise

In January 2020, Real Madrid were facing Atletico Madrid in the final of the Supercopa, the game went on to extra time before Los Blancos were ahead and just a few minutes away from adding another piece of silverware to their extensive cabinet.

Atletico striker Alvaro Morata lead a counter attack ready to break the Madridistas’ hearts, there was no way of preventing a one-on-one with the ‘keeper. Rather, no legal or ethical way of doing it. As the Spaniard rushed towards the box, a sacrificial saviour in white appeared behind him, Valverde gave himself up in order to preserve the win as he fouled him. As he was the last man coming in from behind, he received an inarguable red card but all for the win.

As he headed for the tunnel, he got what looked like an encouraging and comforting pat from the opponent’s manager Diego Simeone whose 'Cholismo' mentality knows all too well what it’s like to put victory as the priority.

And that was one of ‘El Halcon’s’ first highlights as a Real Madrid player. He went on to win the man of the match award before he celebrated the trophy with his teammates, whether his late foul played a part in that, it's hard to know.

"Fede Valverde is a fighter and always works with humility."

Valverde has been a star in the making for a while now, perhaps silently, but his story remains a remarkable one. As a talented youngster, he refused to play for any other side in Uruguay but his boyhood club Penarol where he rose through the ranks. He made his debut at the age of 16 and won titles alongside some of his heroes like legend Diego Forlan.

It was no surprise that, eventually, he started attracting interest from big names - Chelsea, Barcelona and Arsenal among others - spending a 10-day trial with the latter in London.

But it was none other than the majestic Real Madrid who brought him in, starting off in their youth department under coach Santiago Solari. It wasn’t a smooth ride to the top as he was sent on loan to Deportivo La Coruna before coming back and being called up by the then first team manager Julen Lopetegui to the US pre-season tour in 2018.

The Spaniard was sacked and succeeded by Solari who knew Valverde all too well and started giving him some first team minutes - leading him to lift the Club World Cup with Los Merengues as his first trophy with the Madrid side.

Into the fold

The following season was where he started to find more comfort at the club. Doubling the appearances, scoring two goals in consecutive games and creating five. The two campaigns afterwards, however, were less glamorous.

In the 2021/22 season he managed only two assists and one goal in more than 30 appearances.

But this current campaign is what has got the world talking about him. So far, he is the side’s top scorer in LaLiga with six goals accompanied by two goal contributions. In just 12 appearances he already has a career-high record. Simply offering a more complete version, one much closer to the potential of ‘El Halcon’.

It goes without saying that it didn’t happen overnight, Valverde has had history’s greatest managers and midfield models to inspire him to be the best player he can be and the Uruguayan is adhering to that as he is swiftly becoming one of Real Madrid’s most important elements.

Despite how unlikely it was, he made it to the starting line-up and proved more effective than the groomed successors of departed Casemiro (30) and veterans Luka Modric (37) and Toni Kroos (32) who are drawing closer to the end of their time in Madrid. Hyped youth prodigy Eduardo Camavinga (19) and €80million Aurelien Tchouameni (22) have both failed to come close to Valverde’s provision and performances.

‘’I spoke to him and he told me his favourite position. It’s being on the pitch. He doesn’t like being on the bench, anything but that," Carlo Ancelotti said of his Uruguayan midfielder. 

The manager reportedly had a friendly bet with Valverde to score more than 10 goals or else he'd retire.

It is only natural that a player with such tenacity but also willingness to become a fan but also manager favourite. Valverde’s versatility does set him apart, his heat maps show him all over the pitch almost regularly, no matter the position.

All thirds of the pitch benefit from his presence. One of his special traits is just how much space he creates and the different ways he does so. His passes and accuracy break through defensive lines and he is unique in moving the ball forward, to add to that, his pace and dribbling take out players of the game and frees up Madrid’s lethal front trio, Valverde then becoming crucial and favoured amongst the likes of Vinicius Junior (22), Karim Benzema (34) and Rodrygo (21).

The defence is also grateful for him, as he can be seen regularly tracking back and just simply never stops running. If on the right side of midfield or on the flank, he’ll be covering for his respected full back and in a more central role, shielding the defence and recycling the ball. In terms of pressing, even if he doesn’t manage to recover the ball, he makes sure that the opponent’s passes would go back or at least to the side, forcing them towards the touchline.

Another aspect of his tremendous game is his new clinical eye for goal - his powerful long-distance shots have impressed the world. One against Elche after a mouthwatering solo run, two rockets confirming tough-fought victories against Barcelona and Sevilla.

Nevertheless, if there is any way to test a player’s good form, it is by seeing how they fare in the big moments and Valverde’s increase in confidence and determination have pushed him to cruise past those challenges.

To follow the pattern of the sacrificial red card in the 2020 Supercopa, the Uruguayan continued to shine in big matches. Just this season he’s already scored against RB Leipzig, Atletico and Barcelona to secure crucial victories.

Even at times when he wasn’t as prolific such as the previous campaign, he made sure that his only goal would be a winner in the Supercopa semi-final Clasico (against the Catalan side he already has three goals) and creating the only goal in the Champions League final against Liverpool.

As if all of this wasn’t enough to prove his quality but testimony from none other than teammate and football great Kroos insisted on making it clear that he believes that Valverde is amongst the world’s best three players at the moment.

To which Valverde replied: ''I have the best teacher.'' 

“If he continues like this, I don't see limits,” Kroos explained on his Einfach mal Luppen podcast.

“He is very, very complete. If he doesn't see a solution with the ball at some point, then he takes the ball and goes straight to the rival goal! I'm a big fan of Valverde.”

An ever-innovative game, exponentially growing confidence and maturity, as well as versatility and a constant will to improve, have just made Valverde the most unexpected and yet best surprise of the season for Real Madrid.