While Fede Valverde hasn't been totally objectionable in the center midfield to start the 2026/27 La Liga season for Real Madrid, he has not been anywhere near the level he should be. And for Madridistas hoping to see a big early set of bounce back performances from the Uruguayan international under Jose Mourinho after a deeplying disappointing 2025/26 season and even World Cup with his national team, they have not seen that at all thus far.
Valverde hit a new low point on Friday night against Real Betis, and there is a real case to be made that he was the worst player on the pitch for Real Madrid. Both he and Eduardo Camavinga started together in the double pivot with Aurelien Tchouameni still recovering from an injury and Bernardo Silva picking up some rest.
These two embarrassed themselves, and given the expectations Valverde has and his status as a captain, his display was particularly troubling. Despite being touted an engine in midfield, Valverde was the Coyote and not the Roadrunner for Real Madrid. He gave the ball away cheaply, did not progress possession, created zero chances for the forwards, and was even a train wreck defensively.
Fede Valverde is not a traditional CM
Jose Mourinho is rapidly realizing that Fede Valverde does not have the quality, consistency, temprament, or skill set to play in a double pivot in a traditional midfield. There has always been hope that Fede could develop and transition into a true center midfielder to help anchor the team more, but that is just not who he is.
And it is not working out for Fede in this role. He is in the literal prime years of his career now with no excuses, so if it is still not clicking, then it is not meant to be for him. Fede has always been at his best in a wide right midfield role as a No. 8 as the right center midfielder or even as a faux right winger who plays further back to support the team box to box.
After watching how badly Fede struggled in that double pivot with Eduardo Camavinga, Jose Mourinho and Real Madrid have to have it cemented in their heads that Fede's best position is very clearly not a midfielder in the double pivot. It does Fede no favors, it hurts Real Madrid as a team, and it now prevents someone like Bernardo Silva from getting to be in that position.
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