A message that hurts more than the defeat

Real Madrid's loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup semifinals was painful, but for Fede Valverde, it meant more than just an early exit. The Uruguayan took to social media to post a heartfelt message bidding farewell to two teammates who were key in his development: Luka Modric and Lucas Vázquez. Both played their final minutes for Los Blancos in that match.

"We worked every day and prepared ourselves to win this tournament. We couldn't do it, but we’ll keep fighting and improving as a team in every area we need to," Valverde wrote after the game. But the most moving part came next: "We were so excited to win this competition—for all of you, and also for Luka Modric and Lucas Vázquez, who were always our role models on and off the pitch."

Modric, the emotional captain

Although it hasn’t been officially confirmed, all signs point to the Croatian magician leaving his beloved club to join AC Milan in Italy’s Serie A. At 38, after writing a legendary chapter in Madrid’s history, he leaves behind more than just a stat line—he leaves a deep emotional void. Admired by all, his departure hits hard.

Beside him, another long-serving player, Lucas Vázquez, also played his final match as a Madrid player. Valverde, who spent years alongside both, didn’t hide the emotional blow: "Thank you, my friends, for everything you gave us. It was a pleasure to share so many years with you."

A personal record with a bitter taste

The Uruguayan closed the season with 65 official matches (a record for any player in a Spanish club), and finished his post with a message for the fans: “Thank you for supporting us through good times and bad, and for being with us in the U.S.”

The departure of Modric and Vázquez has clearly hit Valverde hard. And even if we didn’t hear a shaky voice or see actual tears, the emotion in his words shows just how much it hurts.