The situation
If they had to highlight one of the main characteristics of Fede Valverde , most football fans would highlight one in particular: his versatility makes Halcón a crucial footballer for Ancelotti’s scheme . Also, if you add strength, omnipresence, arrival and goal to that characteristic, you have everything to succeed in the world of football. In the absence of Modric for the match against Osasuna, the Uruguayan , if Ancelotti sees fit, will have to return to midfield to cover the gap left by the Croat with his hip discomfort. Everything indicates that the Italian will opt for El Pajarito or Dani Ceballos , the latter will have a golden opportunity to show his coach that he is ready to win a renewal in his last year of contract with the Madrid entity. During the month of September, Fede has become the best player in the League with his contribution to the white club during this start of the season: he has scored goals (24% participation in goals) against Atlético, Leipzig and Mallorca, with a gallop from more than 50 meters and has given a couple of assists (one to Rodrygo to unbalance the score against Betis and another against Celtic, in the first group match of the new edition of the Champions League). At this start of the campaign, he has participated in 82% of the minutes and has been a starter in 83% of the merengue team’s matches (he was only a substitute against Betis), adding a total of 701 minutes throughout these first nine matches.
a perfect evolution
The change of position in Fede Valverde has made the Uruguayan take control of the Whites’ right lane. The turning point for Ancelotti to reconsider the new role of the Halcón occurred in the final in Paris against Liverpool . The physical work shown and the help in defense to cover any onslaught ‘ reds’ by that band, were covered by Federico and an excellent Carvajal during the night of the Decimofourta . To round off the historic day, a gallop down the right wing and a measured cross to Vini to score the only goal of the game, finished dispelling the doubts of a Carletto who is delighted with his new vein. Until then, in the 2021-22 academic year , Valverde had played a total of 30 games as a midfielder and only in games of maximum demand (on eleven occasions), had he occupied the position of interior or right winger , emphasizing the games of the return of Champions against City or Chelsea. In addition, Fede had lived on the right side in the draws against Villareal (0-0) and Elche (2-2) during the past season. At this start of the campaign, the reconversion to his new position is total. Of the nine games that the white club has played (six in the league, two in the Champions League and the final of the European Super Cup), the Charrúa has occupied the right-wing position seven times and on only two occasions has he played as a midfielder (against Betis and Majorca). The ‘blackbird’ that they signed from Peñarol is already a world star and has the world of football at his feet…