Fede Valverde has been in the headlines recently, as new Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa has gotten the Uruguayan star back to performing like one of the best center midfielders in the world. But when we talk about Fede being one of the best midfielders on this planet, we underrate him because we forget two things: one, that he has been great in more positions than just the midfield and two, because he is one of the best players in the world at any position, period.
Well, Uruguay national team manager Marcelo Bielsa is certainly not among those who are underrated or overlooking Valverde in any way, and he explained in detail why Valverde has that something special that even the other midfielders regarded as the best in the world, PSG's Vitinha and Barcelona's Pedri, do not.
Marcelo Bielsa praises Fede Valverde's versatility
Bielsa said, via Madrid Xtra, “Fede Valverde is a different player than the others in his position. He plays through the middle of the pitch, while moving just as comfortably from the middle to the right as from the middle to the left. In midfield, he can play in a deep-lying role, ahead of the DM, he can also play close to an attacking midfielder, and he operates effectively across all three zones of the pitch. Then, recently, he also played as a fullback. What most recently caught everyone’s attention was his performance as a winger. He’s created decisive plays, normally on the right, but lately we’ve also seen him make runs down the left and provide assists from there. This is what makes him different to someone like Pedri or Vitinha. Neither Pedri nor Vitinha have this versatility. Fede is undoubtedly one of the best players in the world.”
Put that up on a wall somewhere. It really makes you wonder what on earth Xabi Alonso was doing that he had Fede Valverde moping about and restricted to playing out of position at right back. It is sad, looking back on it, that even some Madridistas turned on their leader, who has put his body on the line for Madrid in the past through agonizing pain and questioned his commitment.
Wouldn't any motivated player be upset at not being able to help the team the most by being stuck in the wrong position week after week? Wouldn't you feel hard done by in his shoes? He can play right back and that is huge, but he can do so much more that can be utilized week after week against different opponents.
Valverde is a Rolls Royce of a player. His hat trick against Manchester City was a brilliant example of what he can do to burn teams on his own, and as Bielsa highlights, his ability to play out wide and crush teams in transition with pace, technique, and finishing is something nobody else can match. People will wax poetic about Pedri and Vitinha's control, but can they impact the final score like him? Can they play out wide like him? They cannot, and Madridistas need to be hammering that home more.