Is Fede Valverde being on the wing hurting Real Madrid’s midfield?

Nowadays, it is uncommon to see players like Federico Valverde, who plays football with passion and love for the club, for which he would give his all. Every time he steps onto the field wearing the royal white, he does anything and everything in his power to guide Real Madrid to victory. It is no surprise that many think of him as the future captain of the club.

Valverde has developed into one of Real Madrid’s most important players in recent seasons, displaying character in every manner imaginable, playing in whichever position the circumstance requires, regardless of his convenience, with just one goal in mind: to win it all for Los Blancos.

Near the latter stage of last season, the Uruguayan midfielder was seen operating on the right flank following Marco Asensio’s struggles, and Rodrygo’s inconsistency and use as an impact substitute.

This affinity for the wing has persisted all through the current campaign, and while it is clear that Valverde plays the position very well, the issue comes as to whether his use there is preventing Real Madrid from seeing the results he might produce from the centre of the pitch.

Real Madrid are missing out on Valverde’s midfield abilities by playing him on the wing

Valverde, as brilliant as he is as a right winger or even a right back at times, is a natural midfielder and despite his prowess in other areas, his midfield talents are not being used fully.

More importantly, we feel his deployment on the wing is a cover for Real Madrid’s failure in signing a proper winger this season, forcing them to remove Valverde out of his position and being placed there. This may provide uninvited competition to Rodrygo, who has been waiting for his breakthrough season at Real Madrid, a few flashes of which were seen in the Champions League last season signalling the start of another Vinicius-like breakout, which might be impeded if the Uruguayan is considered as an option in the position.

The 24-year-old has delivered some of his most impressive moments for Los Blancos from the centre of the pitch, where he can give the greatest flair and partner up with other midfielders as a core member in the position. He does the same on the right side, but giving what a genuine winger does, making acute runs at the defence and directing the ball forward exclusively from the wing, is not his strong point.

Even as a winger, Valverde prefers to carry the ball from the inside of the field and cut the ball inside rather than just carrying it forward and combining with the team’s midfielders. Although the outcomes have been just as impressive, employing these skills with more freedom in a midfield role offers a better possibility of increasing the team’s attacking efficiency.

From a more central position, the player may cover wider areas with a broader radius, reaching sections on both wings equally in the defensive and attacking halves of the field. He has attempted it from the wing as well, but it is confined to sprints up and down on only one side, restricting him to a portion of the field.

One of his most amazing qualities as a midfielder is the sharp, hawk-eyed passes he can supply to the front three from both the ground and the air, something he cannot do much of from the wing. His zeal in safeguarding the ball, as well as its precision, might be put to better use in a deep lying role in front of the defence, with the other two midfielders providing a balanced combination of his defensive skills and inventiveness in creating chances.

The advantages of having Valverde in this squad are numerous, but the most of them, in our opinion, could be brought out from the middle. The final choice, though, rests with Carlo Ancelotti, and who knows, the problem might be resolved in a matter of days if Real Madrid unexpectedly signs a proper right winger.