Federico Valverde is set to make his return to the starting lineup for Real Madrid in the highly anticipated clash against Atletico Madrid.
According to reports from AS, the Uruguayan midfielder has fully recovered from his injury and is expected to start at right-back.
Not only that, but he could even wear the captain’s armband, depending on whether Luka Modric features in the lineup.
Valverde’s absence has been noticeable in recent matches. He has only started once in Real Madrid’s last five games, which was in the first leg.
Before that, he was used as a substitute against Girona and given a complete rest against Real Sociedad and Real Betis.
When Real Madrid faced Rayo Vallecano, he was left on the bench for most of the game, playing just 23 minutes towards the end.
Despite this limited involvement in recent weeks, Valverde remains the most-used player in the entire squad this season, accumulating 3,581 minutes.
A small injury, some discomfort, and a necessary recovery period kept him sidelined for 24 days due to issues with his left femoral biceps.
While these past few weeks have been challenging for him, the wait is over as he is fully fit again.
Valverde’s return comes at the perfect time, and he is expected to slot in at right-back at the Metropolitano. His tactical awareness, defensive solidity, and ability to push forward into attacking areas make him a strong option in that role.
Many believe he has the qualities to be one of the best right-backs in the world, but his natural position remains in midfield.
His recovery process was carefully managed after he experienced discomfort during a match against Osasuna.
He played through the pain against Manchester City, receiving treatment to stay on the pitch, but ultimately had to step back and rest.
Now, things are back on track. After nearly a month of absence, Valverde is ready to step onto the pitch again, this time on the right side of the defence.
His return will be a major boost for Real Madrid, and if Modric does not start, he could even lead the team as captain on this crucial night against their city rivals.