Real Madrid midfielder a doubt for Villarreal clash, likely to return vs AS Roma – report | OneFootball

Earlier today, Real Madrid issued an official statement confirming that club captain and key midfielder Federico Valverde had suffered an ankle injury.

The Uruguayan international has sustained a grade 3 ankle sprain as a result of a nasty challenge from Kang-in Lee of Atletico Madrid during the derby this past weekend.

While the club did not provide an official timeline on his recovery period, sources suggested that he is expected to be out only for a couple of weeks.

As such, the expectation would be that Valverde might be ready to return soon after the international break, when Real Madrid resume their campaign with a La Liga fixture against Villarreal.

Return vs AS Roma the more realistic target

However, according to the latest update from journalist Alberto Pereiro, as things stand, it appears extremely unlikely that Valverde could make his comeback against Villarreal.

Valverde suffered an injury against Atletico Madrid. (Photo by Mateo Villalba Sanchez/Getty Images)

As such, the idea within Real Madrid is for their club captain to be fully ready and return to action in the subsequent fixture against AS Roma in the UEFA Champions League.

Los Blancos take on Villarreal on October 10 at the Santiago Bernabeu before flying to Italy to face Jose Mourinho’s former employers on October 14.

And, if everything goes according to plan, the idea is for Valverde to be ready and available for the trip to Rome, rather than the league meeting against the Yellow Submarine.

A key player for Mourinho

Coming into the new season, there were doubts and speculations about Valverde’s role as well as his future at Real Madrid, after an ordinary season which ended with him brawling with teammate Aurelien Tchouameni.

Valverde has started all matches under Mourinho. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

But under Mourinho, the 28-year-old midfielder has become an integral part of the team, starting each of the Merengues’ eight matches across all competitions this season, even chipping in with a goal and an assist.

Valverde has remained a permanent fixture in the double pivot in midfield even as Mourinho has rotated his partners, with Bernardo Silva, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Eduardo Camavinga all being tried.

However, the feeling is that the Portuguese tactician has yet to find his best partnership in midfield, especially considering that Real Madrid tend to lack the necessary control and creativity from the centre.