As has been the case for the last few years, the midfielder Federico Valverde is once again proving himself to be simply indispensable for this Real Madrid team.
Last season, he was the Merengue player to have played the most on the pitch. This season, his importance has only increased for the European and Spanish champions.
As MARCA has reported, the Uruguayan has missed only 21 minutes in total this season, having played 879 out of a possible 900 minutes. Currently, he is the outfield player to have played the most minutes in the top five European leagues.
The only rest he got was in the match against Alaves when he was subbed out with the score-line being 3-0 in Los Blancos’ favour. This substitution only went on to show his importance for Ancelotti’s team, as Alaves scored two goals and came within inches of getting a draw from that game after Valverde’s exit.
The versatility that Valverde offers makes him a crucial part of Ancelotti’s team. He excels both as a team player and as an individual, according to the needs of a particular match, and can also play several roles in the midfield.
He can play as a pivot to bring more balance to the team, while also usually treading deeper in the opposition half and trying one of his thunderous shots to give his team a surprising goal. The €120 million-rated midfielder also excels as an interior as he breaks defensive lines with his dribbling and speed.
Furthermore, his intensity only increases as the match goes by and his teammates start losing some of their steam. This ability makes Valverde an even more important player for Real Madrid when the result is only thinly separated.
Lately, the Uruguayan is also emerging as a leader in the dressing room and is putting the lessons he learned from players like Toni Kroos, Casemiro, and Nacho to good use.