Federico Valverde in Crisis, Real Madrid May Strip Him of Captaincy and Could Consider Summer Exit

The Uruguayan faces sanctions and internal doubts that put his leadership role in Madrid at risk.

A punishment for Valverde

Federico Valverde is going thru a moment of maximum tension at Real Madrid. The Uruguayan midfielder, who had taken on the role of leader after the departures of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos, became the first captain after Dani Carvajal's farewell. However, his role as a leader is in doubt and he could lose the armband.

According to what was revealed by Onda Cero, the white leadership is seriously considering stripping him of the captaincy. The reasons lie in a series of episodes that have not been well received either by the club or by part of the locker room. The first reason is his confrontation with Xabi Alonso when he refused to play as a right-back. Then, the fight with Aurélien Tchouaméni, which ended with Valverde injured and with a cut on his head.

Financial fine and possible sports punishment

In Valdebebas, they believe that a captain cannot give that image, much less repeat incidents on consecutive days within the locker room. For that reason, both Valverde and Tchouaméni were fined nearly 600,000 dollars each.

The immediate future of Valverde is uncertain. According to the Spanish press, some sources close to the club assure that his departure in the next summer market is not ruled out. A decision of that caliber would mark an unexpected turn in the career of a player who had been pointed out as a natural leader for the new era of Madrid.

A complicated moment for Valverde

What seemed to be Valverde's consolidation as captain has turned into a scenario of doubts and possible breakups. Real Madrid, in the midst of reconstruction, now faces the dilemma of supporting one of its symbols or opening the door for him to leave in search of discipline and internal order.