Federico Valverde was left injured following a heavy challenge from Kang-In Lee during the 2-1 defeat against Atlético Madrid, and early reports suggest the Uruguayan midfielder could be sidelined for around three weeks.
Federico Valverde Could Miss Three Weeks
The Madrid derby may have left the Real Madrid with a consequence far more costly than the defeat at the Metropolitano.
According to Guillermo Rai of The Athletic, Valverde is expected to miss between two and three weeks because of the problem he suffered in his left ankle and will not travel to join Uruguay during the upcoming international break.
The incident occurred late in the first half when Kang-In Lee caught Valverde on his left ankle with his studs.
Referee Miguel Ángel Ortiz Arias did not show a card, while VAR did not intervene to recommend an on-field review.
The injury now threatens to leave Real Madrid without one of its most important players immediately before the international break.
Mourinho Fumes Over Challenge on Valverde
The controversy did not end with the final whistle.
After the defeat, José Mourinho appeared at his press conference carrying a sheet of paper with images of two incidents that, in his view, had a major impact on the derby.
One was Cristian Romero's challenge on Jude Bellingham's knee. The other was precisely Kang-In Lee's tackle on Valverde.
"They were two clear red cards," Mourinho said, arguing that the match could have unfolded very differently had Atlético Madrid received the dismissals he believed were warranted.
The Portuguese manager's frustration increased after Dean Huijsen was sent off just five minutes after halftime for bringing down Giuliano Simeone inside the penalty area.
Alejandro Grimaldo converted the resulting penalty to open the scoring before Jonathan David doubled Atlético Madrid's advantage six minutes later. Antonio Rüdiger pulled one back with a header in the 89th minute, but Real Madrid could not find an equalizer.
Valverde Could Miss the Next Three Weeks
For the Spanish giants, the consequences could extend well beyond the result.
According to information published by The Athletic, Valverde is expected to be sidelined for between two and three weeks and will not join Uruguay during the upcoming international break.
For now, Real Madrid has not released a medical statement confirming the exact extent of the injury or a definitive recovery timeline, meaning the club's official diagnosis is still pending.
His potential absence would be particularly significant for Mourinho given the Uruguayan's importance to his team.
Valverde started the derby and has remained a fundamental piece of the Real Madrid midfield. Just days earlier, he had scored one of the goals in the 2-1 victory over Inter in the Spanish club's Champions League opener.
A Derby That Left More Than Just a Defeat
Mourinho also made no attempt to hide his frustration with the refereeing.
The manager questioned the decision to appoint Ortiz Arias for a match carrying so much tension, pointing to his lack of international experience and arguing that the referee struggled to handle the pressure of the occasion.
Even so, the Portuguese coach stopped short of suggesting there was any deliberate intention against his team, saying he wanted to believe the incidents were simply refereeing mistakes.
On the other side, Diego Simeone urged caution over the comments made after the match and defended Atlético Madrid's performance, insisting his team had controlled the contest both at 11 versus 11 and after Huijsen's dismissal.
The result left Atlético Madrid on 16 points, above its city rival in the standings, while Real Madrid remained on 15.
But for the Spanish giants, the damage may not be limited to the three points.
If the recovery period reported by The Athletic is ultimately confirmed, Mourinho will have to navigate the coming weeks without Valverde, and one of the incidents he protested most strongly after the derby will continue to have consequences long after the final whistle.
