Real Madrid responded to their derby defeat with a 5-0 win over Kazakh side Kairat Almaty on Tuesday, but the waters have calmed little following the drama surrouning Fede Valverde. President Florentino Perez has seen fit to get involved.
Valverde spoke publicly on Monday about his preference to avoid playing right-back, something that seemed to be met with little humour from Xabi Alonso. The Basque manager was reportedly planning on starting him there against Kairat, and Valverde then ended up on the bench, where he cut a less than amused figure after being sent to warm up.
Following much attention on social media, Valverde felt the need to make a statement saying he had never refused to play at right-back or anywhere else, although he did not make any further reference to his preferences or his warm-up.
Valverde receives call from Florentino Perez
According to Defensa Central, Perez this week called Valverde to express the full confidence of the club in him, his backing, and that of manager Xabi Alonso. During a five-minute conversation, Perez told Valverde not to be influenced by the press and their attempts to destabilise him and Real Madrid. Valverde was emotional in his response, and the conversation finished with both promising to lift many titles.
Valverde may not miss Uruguay duty in October
Valverde would have been due to head off to join up with Uruguay next week, as they prepare for next year’s World Cup with friendlies against the Dominican Republic and Uzbekistan. However Marca say that with both ties being friendlies, and requiring a long trip to Malaysia, Valverde may be given a rest by his national team.
The likelihood is that he will then be involved against Mexico and the USA in November. Before the drama surrounding his position, one of the possible motives for Valverde’s struggles in the Madrid derby was a supposed lack of legs unfamiliar to the bombastic midfielder.
