The El Clasico that took place on Sunday that led to a 3-1 win for Real Madrid was special for many reasons, and one of them was the emergence of our next superstar in midfield- Federico Valverde.
The second game against Elche demonstrated what a gorgeous player Valverde is and why Real Madrid struck gold by signing him.
Now, Valverde is someone who’s been on the radar for several years and is touted to be Madrid’s next captain in the future, and this just further reiterates all the praise that he’s been receiving.
All statistics are courtesy of ESPN and LaLiga.
Real Madrid’s Three-Dimensional Midfielder
Valverde may just be the most complete midfielder in the world.
There’s a reason why people call him a “three-lunged” midfielder, it’s because of how superior his stamina level is compared to that of his opponents and compatriots.
He was literally everywhere on the right side of the pitch, and the beauty of the player is that even though he’s initially assigned to assist Vinicius and Benzema on the flanks, he drops back into midfield and helps in defense, and still races back in time to get teams on the counter. Valverde’s passing is quick and accurate as well, giving opponents less time to react. And, he does all of this barely dropping a sweat. Time upon time, he continues to show Madridistas that he gives his all for the white shirt.
All round prowess
Valverde has drastically improved from last season in the attacking aspect, and we can only expect to see more from him. His shooting prowess is excellent, and he has the ability to shoot long rangers with power and precision. Ter Stegen was nowhere close to his shot in El Clasico, which resulted in the second goal. He has 3 goals from outside the box after the Elche encounter, which is more than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues.
Ancelotti in an interview mentioned that he has a bet that the Uruguayan will hit ten goals this season. Valverde is determined to hit that landmark and does not want to disappoint Ancelotti, joking that he will not be the reason for the retirement of the Italian coach.
In 9 La Liga appearances, he currently has 4 goals and 1 assist, which is already more than his record last season. Last year, he had 0 goals and 1 assist in 31 La Liga appearances, as well as 1 assist in 11 Champions League appearances, notably coming in the final against Liverpool. He is the driver of attacks from midfield, creating free space and outrunning opponents with his speed.
The Uruguayan has completed 333 passes, with a pass success rate of 89% and an Expected Assists (xA) of 1.73.
Apart from his passing and attacking, the player always tracks back to defend and is constantly pressurizing his opponent markers. He has an average of 0.95 tackles per game this season, and a 0.14 interception average, which is only going to get better as the season progresses.
Versatility, Style of Play, and Mentality
We saw Zidane use Valverde as a right-back, due to his athleticism and ability to defend, and apart from that, Valverde can play as a winger and practically anywhere in midfield (CM/CDM), and still leave an everlasting impact. Fede is any coach’s delight, and this is what makes him multifaceted and more valuable than other players in world football today. This is why Real Madrid denied rumoured 100 million euro bids to keep the player. He represents more than just ability – he represents the drive to excel and give 100% in any position the coach puts him in, or any unforeseen circumstance the team faces.
If the team is down 3-0 at half time, Valverde is the kind of player to clap his hands and motivate the team to step their game up. Only players with a certain level of excellence demand that level of quality from their peers, and the Uruguayan midfielder is a great example.
Valverde likes to dictate play, win the ball back, and quickly race down the flanks for a counter. He usually closes down his opponent markers instantly, and has the unique ability to sense dangerous attacks beforehand. Valverde keeps switching between midfield and the flank, but he usually starts as a winger. Due to his stamina and fitness, he’s able to rotate between both in games, giving extra support to the midfield and defense.
The player’s contribution for Madrid this season has been invaluable, and we believe this could be the Uruguayan’s best season yet for the Whites. Only time will tell!