Fede Valverde’s season has earned praise from many corners, but when it comes from Marcelo Bielsa it carries a different weight. The Uruguay coach is not someone who hands out admiration lightly, and his latest assessment of the Real Madrid midfielder felt like a serious endorsement of just how far the South American’s game has evolved.
As quoted by MARCA, Bielsa spoke ahead of Uruguay’s friendly against England at Wembley and was asked directly about Valverde’s excellent run of form. His answer focused not only on consistency, but on the new layers the Madrid star is now showing. He said:
“Fede has always stood out for the value of his performances, but it is true that in the last few matches he has shown a striking ability to unbalance games, he is showing things that we had not seen from him before.”
That is a huge compliment, especially because it suggests Valverde is no longer just doing what he has always done well. He is adding fresh tools to his game, becoming even harder to read and even more important in moments where a match needs a sudden swing.
Bielsa then went on to explain further. He said:
“He has solved the team’s needs as a midfielder, an interior, a right-back, and now more as a winger… it is very difficult for Valverde not to find solutions to resolve situations in almost every area of the pitch he occupies, because he is a very dynamic player.”
Bielsa closed it out with some nice words. He continued:
“He has always been a player who attracted the attention of everyone in football, especially in Europe and at the team where he plays.”
Fede Valverde’s resurgence has coincided with Alvaro Arbeloa’s arrival at Real Madrid. He has been playing at an incredibly high level and if not for the suspension for the red card he got against Atletico Madrid, he would have been the only player to have played all the game under the new manager.
Whenever Fede plays well, Madrid more often than not wins the game. It remains to be seen how the Uruguayan manages to keep up his form and if he can inspire the team to yet another Champions League title.
