Real Madrid key midfielder looking to turn things around after slow start to season | OneFootball

Real Madrid have enjoyed a strong start to the season under the leadership of new coach Xabi Alonso.

The Spanish tactician has added newfound zest and tactical identity to the team, which is leading the league table ahead of Barcelona.

However, one of the few players who has struggled to perform under Alonso so far this season is Xabi Alonso.

Valverde looking for a turnaround

According to MARCA (h/t Le Journal du Real), Valverde is aware of the fact that he hasn’t had the best of starts to the season and even stayed back at Valdebebas during the international break.

Valverde, in fact, was involved in a friendly between Real Madrid first-team against Real Madrid Castilla, alongside the likes of Jude Bellingham and Joan Martinez.

Valverde is keen on making a turnaround. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Having stayed back in Madrid during the break, Valverde is now keen on staging a turnaround when Real Madrid take on Getafe this coming weekend.

However, what is particularly interesting to see is where exactly Valverde will play against Getafe.

Given that Real Madrid are missing out on the services of multiple defenders, including Dean Huijsen, coach Xabi Alonso is short of options in central defence.

Therefore, the Spaniard could be forced to deploy Valverde at right-back, with Raul Asencio and Eder Militao forming the central defensive pairing.

The Uruguayan international, though, has admitted in the recent past that he doesn’t exactly enjoy playing in the right-back position and prefers playing in midfield.

Whether or not that will force Alonso to look for other options at right-back remains to be seen. But what will be a key monitorable this weekend is how exactly Valverde, regardless of where he operates in the Real Madrid starting XI.