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Is Federico Valverde actually the Real deal? As the midfielder looks to see off Manchester City
Real Madrid and Manchester City meet again in tonight's Champions League second leg, with the Spanish side having a 3-0 advantage thanks to a first leg win that was almost all down to one man.
For once, it wasn't the names of Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham, or the injured Kylian Mbappe who were the game's difference makers. No, instead, it was a moment in the spotlight for one of Madrid's unsung heroes, Federico Valverde.
The Uruguayan notched his first-ever career hat-trick in a first half masterclass against Man City, with each goal a split-second demonstration of the multi-facet attributes of the midfielder.
After the game, teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold called Valverde 'the most underrated player on the planet', while boss Alvaro Arbeloa coined him 'Mr Real Madrid', so why is the 27-year-old not lauded among Europe's very best?
A cog in the wheel
Valverde's rise to the Real Madrid first team was rapid. After just 12 games with his hometown side, Penarol in Uruguay, he was snapped up by the Spanish giants in 2016 and sent to their Castilla reserve side before a loan spell with Deportivo saw him acclimatise to elite European football in La Liga.
He was given his Madrid debut by Julen Lopetegui in 2018, but it was under the successful reign of Zinedine Zidane that the midfielder flourished.
As part of a midfield that included Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, Valverde was often the work rate and dynamism that complemented the legendary duo but was often overlooked when onlookers marvelled at a team who have dominated recent Champions League campaigns.
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Since their departure, however, the Uruguayan seems to have come into his own, and this season he’s not only been trusted and overperformed in several positions – including at right-back - but also been one of the standout performers wherever he’s been deployed, culminating in his first-leg showing against Manchester City.
During his eight years at the Bernabeu, Valverde has collected three La Liga titles, two Champions League medals and the Copa Del Rey and with each passing season, he has become a growing influence on the Madrid team, yet there still seems to be an underappreciation of his talents outside the Spanish capital.
Uruguay's guy
That's certainly not the case, however, in his home country, where he's now seen as the national team's latest talisman.
Under Marcelo Bielsa, the South Americans head to the World Cup this summer in a slightly different mould. After an era where we got accustomed to seeing a Uruguay team leading from the front with big-name strikers such as Edison Cavani, Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez, Valverde is now the country's leading light around whom the team is built.
“Valverde is everything,” former Premier League midfielder and Uruguayan legend Gus Poyet exclusively told DAZN News, courtesy of Bet442, when asked about the player.
“For me, he is a complete midfielder. You can play him everywhere. He is outstanding.”
Indeed, he has played everywhere for Madrid this season, filling in at right-back to cover for injuries, and this is perhaps why he is sometimes overlooked when discussing some of the game's truly elite midfielders.
"I would like him to finish the season at Real Madrid playing in the centre midfield," Poyet adds.
"Because that is where he is going to play in the summer, and he'll be most effective. Especially alongside Bencantur, it's where Uruguay have the most strength."
City slayer
He'll be back in his midfield berth tonight at the Etihad, when Madrid look to complete the job over City and eliminate them from the Champions League for a third season in a row.
No doubt, they'll have more than an eye on Valverde's attacking prowess this time around, although very few could have done much to prevent the player's third goal, which will surely go down as a contender for the competition's goal of the season, such was its incredible technical ability.
He followed that up with another sensational goal in the weekend win over Elche, making it five in his last three games, and will look to carry that form into the second leg and book his side's place in the quarter-finals.
Then, maybe, he'll earn the flowers that he's already richly deserved as one of Real's real deals.
How to watch Real Madrid vs Manchester City in the USA on DAZN
Soccer fans in the US can watch Real Madrid vs Manchester City in the Champions League in Spanish language as part of their DAZN subscription package.
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Fans can watch extra Champions League games in Spanish on ViX. A selection of those matches are also available on UNIMÁS and TUDN.
How to watch the Champions League in New Zealand on DAZN
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How to watch the Champions League in Canada on DAZN
Watch every game of the Champions League this season in Canada with a DAZN subscription.
There are three subscription options, each offering a different selection of sports. Access to every Champions League match is included in all three package offerings, ranging from $29.99 to $44.99 per month (for 12 months)
