Federico Valverde is once again one of Real Madrid’s most used players this season as he has established himelf as one of the first names on the teamsheet under Carlo Ancelotti.
Despite not having the proficiency of Aurelien Tchouameni in defensive midfield or the creativity of Jude Bellingham in the final third, the player has carved out a niche of his own as a handy offensive player with defensive stability.
With an average of 88 minutes per game across Los Blancos’ nine league clashes so far, his contributions are thus only fitting.
Speaking to the media in a recent interview, Valverde commented on his early footballing days, and start to life at Real Madrid and the club’s situation today.
The Uruguayan defender began his interview by admitting that he had changed a lot from the footballer he was to become what he is today at Real Madrid especially as he hated defending in his earlier years.
“Honestly, little Federico never imagined that he would improve to this extent, even less defensively. I think that here, at Real Madrid, my defensive skills have really developed.”
“And I think that’s what has helped me reach this level, to become the great player that I think I am today,” he added.
Commenting on the challenges he faced arriving in Europe from South America and how the style of football varied, he said,
“Economically, coming to Europe gives you a completely different situation, which is good. But it is also a change to the point that sometimes you don’t really know how to deal with it.”
Valverde then took the media through the first time Real Madrid showed interest in signing him and revealed it to be back in 2015.
“I think it was before the match against Argentina (2015 U17 Copa America). My parents were sleeping in the same hotel as us. They asked me to come to their room. When I saw their faces, I knew something was up.”
“I had never seen my parents cry. Seeing them like that was emotional. But to be honest, I wondered if it wasn’t a joke. Then when you realise it’s true, how do you want to go back to bed? It was a dream, I was happy.”
Valverde was never a player to enjoy training, but he admitted that he was now more willing to put in the extra hours to fight for a spot.
“Yes, a little more. Anyway, to be able to get into the starting line-up, I would be prepared to play as a goalkeeper. Well, given that we have the best goalkeeper in the world (Thibaut Courtois), that is unlikely to happen (laughs).”
“The most important thing is that I have learned to defend, to be in the positions that the coach wants me to be in. I try to give my best, defensively or offensively,” he added.
Elaborating on his versatility on the field, the midfield star said,
“I try to adapt to the instructions and that’s what matters in the end. I even played as a full-back with Zinedine Zidane and Carlo Ancelotti. I give everything, everywhere.”
While Valverde is one of the best in the business today, his path to the elite was far from easy. Speaking on the most challenging moments he has faced over the years, he admitted that facing relegation with Deportivo La Coruna was not easy.
“Yes. We were relegated (with Deportivo La Coruña in the 2017-18 season). I never thought it would end this way, given the players we had. It was bad but it made me grow. Maybe some thought I didn’t care, that I would calmly return to Real Madrid.”
“But I suffered a lot. I think I’m a player who likes to defend the team he plays for and says to himself that he has given everything. The relegation of a club that has opened its doors wide for me is an indelible stain. I hope they return to La Liga.”
On the importance of Zinedine Zidane on his Real Madrid saga and the respect he had for the club legend, Valverde admitted that it was the icon who was responsible for his rise.
“Obviously I always admired him as a player and a legend of the game, but then he became more like a father figure. That’s how I saw it anyway.”
“Whether I played a lot or not, he was always there to help you, to refresh you after a training session. That’s beautiful. Here, everyone only has good things to say about themselves.”
He was then asked about the differences between Zidane and Carlo Ancelotti, to which he said,
“I don’t see many differences between him and Zidane, they are very similar. These are two coaches who know each player perfectly. They also constantly give off good vibes.”
The Uruguayan star then stated one area he felt he still needed to improve, claiming it to be his ability in spaces.
“Playing in spaces. I need to do that more. I would also say that I need to gain calm. I must definitely maintain my strength, my way of always wanting to give everything. And if not, it might be good to improve my left foot. I still have a bit of work to do.”
Carlo Ancelotti has repeatedly asked the team to be better in offence and defence as a collective this season and the player gave his two cents on the same.
“My opinion is that there are players who don’t really need to defend. It’s good that they help us from time to time, but it’s like defenders: nobody expects them to attack for ninety minutes, right?”
“It’s a matter of understanding the game. Personally, I don’t mind helping our attackers, so that they benefit. I want them to score two or three goals,” he added.
On his learnings from Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Casemiro, he said,
“Playing with them saves you a few years of fatigue. They have given me a lot of advice. They make you feel like you are at the biggest club in the world and that you have to have that hunger to win.”
He also elaborated on his special admiration for Toni Kroos and how he compared with Casemiro who has also been a supporting pillar.
“As a fan, I had nothing but admiration for Toni Kroos, for his technical and tactical qualities. I would have given him the Ballon d’Or.”
“He was someone close to the young players, giving them advice and helping them. He always had good intentions. In fact, playing just one minute with players of that class was enough to make me happy,” he continued.
Needless to say, the follow-up question was about him inheriting Kroos’ iconic number 8 jersey, to which he replied that it was not easy for him to take the responsibility.
“Deep down, I wanted that number more than anything else, but I don’t know, I had doubts, a fear of not getting it. We are talking about a player who has left his mark on the history of this club, the history of football in short.”
“I had a lot of doubts, I hesitated. But I finally accepted and she had a lot to do with it.”
Now one of the older players in the squad, Valverde has an additional role of guiding the younger talents as Kroos had done with him.
“Now that I am one of the oldest players in the dressing room. Yes, I try to play the role of an elder to Arda Guler and Endrick. I try to pass on to them what I learned when I was in their place,” he said on that topic.
Speaking about Real Madrid’s chances across competitions this season, he was optimistic that they are still the best in the world.
“Well, I think we are currently the best team in the world. You just have to maintain that hunger that I just spoke about. We also have to play well in the first half.”
Valverde’s conversation was then directed towards the topic of Kylian Mbappe and the Frenchman’s adaptation to life in Madrid.
“It’s amazing. We all know that Kylian is one of the best players in the world. Having him here is a great satisfaction. I suffered against him when he played for PSG or the French national team. It’s difficult to play against him.”
“Today, it’s an opportunity to have him as a teammate. I can enjoy him, my children can see him. You have to remember that a lot of people spoke and promised that he would bring problems here, that there would be conflicts,” he added.
“All these rumours caused a stir. He’s a really nice person. And then his Spanish is impressive, it’s better than mine (laughs),” he concluded jovially.
Finally, the player was asked to give his two cents on the Ballon d’Or race for which he too is a nominee this year.
“For me, being on the list of 30 nominees for the Ballon d’Or is crazy. There are millions of footballers on the planet and it’s nothing. But I know who is nominated and I’m still very far from winning it.”
“If I finish in the top 15, I will be very happy. But you always have to strive to improve. You always have to aim high, year after year. Otherwise, we stagnate and we don’t grow,” he concluded.
Source: EFE (h/t RM4Arab)