The Medical Report That Shook Madrid

Real Madrid have confirmed that Federico Valverde has suffered an injury to the semimembranosus muscle in his right leg, after the discomfort he felt during Sunday’s 0–0 draw with Rayo Vallecano. The Uruguayan, who asked to be substituted in the 85th minute, underwent medical tests on Monday, and the club released an official statement confirming the diagnosis.

Although the injury is not considered serious, the midfielder will need to rest for several days and remain in Madrid under observation. His recovery time will depend on his progress in the coming days, but there’s no indication of a long-term issue.

Out for Uruguay and With No Return Date Set

The timing of the injury comes just before the international break, meaning Valverde will miss Uruguay’s friendly matches against Mexico and the United States. It’s a significant setback for Marcelo Bielsa, who will also be without Darwin Núñez and Nicolás de la Cruz, both sidelined with physical problems.

Within Real Madrid, there’s calm despite the scare, as tests have ruled out a muscle tear. However, Valverde will not return until he’s fully fit. His comeback is expected in around 10 days, provided there are no setbacks in his recovery.

A Historic Record Before the Setback

Before the bad news, Valverde achieved a major milestone: he became the Uruguayan player with the most appearances in Real Madrid’s history.

With the match against Rayo, Valverde reached 338 official appearances, surpassing José Emilio Santamaría, the legendary defender who played for Madrid between 1957 and 1966.

Since making his debut in October 2018 against Viktoria Plzeň in the Champions League, Valverde has grown into one of the team’s leaders and vice-captains. His trophy cabinet already includes 14 titles — among them 2 Champions Leagues, 3 Club World Cups, 3 LaLiga titles, 1 Copa del Rey, and 3 Spanish Super Cups.

Madrid’s Engine on Pause

His absence will be felt by Carlo Ancelotti, who sees Valverde as one of his most irreplaceable players for his energy, versatility, and leadership. Even though the diagnosis brings relief, Real Madrid won’t take any risks — their midfield engine will rest, but not for long.

Soon, Federico Valverde will be back doing what he does best: running, pressing, and driving Real Madrid toward another victory.