Valverde hails Mourinho, embraces Real Madrid captaincy: ‘It’s incredibly emotional, a huge honour’ | OneFootball

Federic Valverde returned to Real Madrid training today, marking the start of his pre-season under new head coach Jose Mourinho.

The day also carried extra significance for the Uruguayan midfielder, who celebrated his 28th birthday and begins the campaign as the club’s new first captain.

Speaking to Real Madrid TV, Valverde reflected on his return, his excitement about working with Mourinho, and the responsibility of wearing the captain’s armband.

Happy to be back

Valverde admitted he could not have imagined a better way to celebrate his birthday than returning to the club.

“I’m very happy to be back here, at the best club in the world, where I always dreamed of playing as a child. Celebrating my birthday here with my teammates and the group is something very special and emotional,” said the midfielder.

“I’ll also make sure to send my love to my family, my wife, and my children,” he added.

Praise for Mourinho

Valverde also expressed his admiration for Mourinho, saying he is eager to learn from one of football’s most successful managers.

“I’m eager to learn from him, to listen to every piece of advice he gives me, and to make the most of every second, every minute of training I get to share with him and his coaching staff,” noted the 28-year-old Uruguayan star.

“I want to learn and grow as a person and as a footballer. I think he’s a special person from whom I can learn a lot, and I hope it’s a great season.”

Embracing the Captaincy

Valverde described becoming Real Madrid’s first captain coming into the new season, following Dani Carvajal’s exit, as one of the proudest moments of his career.

“It’s incredibly emotional, a huge honor. Whenever someone comes up to me on the street or within my circle, at home, and they tell me that (I’m captain), it fills me with pride and emotion,” shared the midfielder.

“You think about everything you’ve been through, the good times, the bad, and then the moment came to be the first captain.”

Real Madrid’s new first captain. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

He also paid tribute to the captains who helped shape him during his years at the club.

“I’ve learned so much from all the teammates who have been captains here. They’ve always given me incredible support,” he remarked.

Continuing, Valverde added: “I’ve also grown a lot from those teammates with whom I shared so many years in the locker room, like Dani (Carvajal), Sergio (Ramos), Toni (Kroos), Luka (Modric), Lucas Vazquez…

“I’ll never tire of mentioning them. They’re players who have helped me a lot to grow as a person, as a captain, as a player.

“This will be my first year as captain, and I’m going to try to enjoy it to the fullest and give my absolute best, not only on the field but also off it, so that all my teammates feel comfortable.”

A message for the fans

Looking ahead to the new campaign, Valverde made his ambitions clear, saying: “What we want most is to win titles this year and for the people of Madrid to be happy, to enjoy a year full of titles and to be proud of us.”