Real Madrid have arguably the best core of youngsters in world football today. What is even more impressive is the fact that the club signed many of them before they had made a proper impact in the senior game and ended up developing them into first-team superstars at Santiago Bernabeu, showcasing great patience and an eye for talent.
That is not easy to do, especially for a club like Real Madrid, who are expected to win pretty much every game they participate in. The secret is to find the right balance between experience and youth, which Los Blancos have done perfectly.
Fede Valverde has already spent almost eight years at Real Madrid. He joined the club from Penarol back in 2016.
He spent a season playing for Castilla and then the following one out on loan at Deportivo La Coruna. For the past six seasons, Valverde has been part of the first-team and at just 25 years of age, that could remain the case for the next decade to come. Perhaps even longer.
Liverpool made €150 million offer for Real Madrid player
There is no lack of interest in the Uruguayan international's signature though. As reported by El Debate, Liverpool have come to offer €150 million to sign Valverde, through international intermediaries. A proposition that remains.
Valverde pretty much looks like Liverpool's dream transfer target. It is one that might not come true anytime soon though, especially with Jurgen Klopp set to leave Anfield at the end of this season.
Of course, €150 million is a significant figure for any player. But Valverde is a vital part of this Real Madrid team and has been for a long time. It would not be ideal to part ways with him at this point, now that he is set to enter his prime.
Valverde is already a nailed on starter for Real Madrid. Yet, it feels like there are levels to his game that he has not quite unlocked yet. We saw glimpses of it at the beginning of last season, when he was scoring from distance for fun. If he can produce that on a consistent basis along with his overall play, the Uruguayan would be the best midfielder in the world.