The Real Madrid midfielder has two La Liga titles, two Spanish Super Cups, one Champions League (including an assist for Vinicius in the final), one UEFA Super Cup and the two aforementioned Club World Cups.
Fede is back to his best
On Saturday night, Fede Valverde won his second Club World Cup title to add to what is a spectacular list of achievements at the age of 24. The Real Madrid midfielder has two La Liga titles, two Spanish Super Cups, one Champions League (including an assist for Vinicius in the final), one UEFA Super Cup and the two aforementioned Club World Cups. Saturday was the rebirth of this future Real Madrid captain, as he scored two goals and collected the Silver Ball of the World Cup. The three goals he scored in this tournament showed that Valverde is back to his best, and he has already hit the 10-goal target set for him by Carlo Ancelotti. This success comes after a tough January, in which he wasn’t playing at his best for several reasons.
Valverde is grateful for everything
His first World Cup with Uruguay had left its mark on him, but, above all, a problem experienced at home, revealed by his partner, Mina Bonino, altered his usual reliability. It is difficult to see an elite player who smiles more than anyone seeming so out of sorts. He is grateful for everything, even though Bonino had some problems with her pregnancy last month, which, fortunately, seem to have been resolved. Valverde, Bonino, her mother Doris and the whole family had a hard time, mainly because of that health problem but also because of the many comments that were being thrown at Valverde on social media over his performances.
During the match against Al Hilal, which ended 5-3, Bonino revealed what was happening at home. “After crying for a whole month, after mourning, while I had my second child in my belly, yesterday we got the unexpected news: the baby is fine,” she revealed. “Everything is normal. We still haven’t processed it yet. It was a tough month, and this is a new beginning.” Valverde’s return to form in the final is no coincidence, then, and the situation has clearly been weighing heavily on him and his family.
Ancelotti dismissed the rumours linking him with the Brazil national team job
After Real Madrid secured the Club World Cup title on Saturday night, defeating Al Hilal 5-3 in the final, Carlo Ancelotti spoke to the media. He dismissed the rumours linking him with the Brazil national team job. The Italian has been linked with the Selecao’s post in recent weeks as Brazil look for a replacement for Tite. But he isn’t planning on leaving Real Madrid, where he has a contract until 2024, any time soon. “I’m not leaving here until they fire me,” Ancelotti stated late on Saturday night. “I’m delighted to form part of Real Madrid’s history. We have had a nice time here in Morocco, with many Real Madrid fans supporting us. We leave very happy.”
In his post-match press conference, Ancelotti also praised a couple of individuals, starting with Fede Valverde, who has now reached the 10-goal target that the coach had set. “I’m glad he has achieved this because now I don’t have to rip up my coaching license,” Ancelotti said. “Valverde has gone through a tough time, but he’s getting back to his best. He contributes a lot for us, not just because of the goals he can score.” As for Vinicius, Ancelotti praised the Brazilian after being named the tournament’s best player. “This could be a new boost for him,” Ancelotti said of the forward’s success at the Club World Cup.
“He is progressing, continuing the progression that started last season. We’re delighted with him, mainly because we see that he keeps improving. He is much more decisive now and is scoring in most games or making the difference in most games.”