Real Madrid heavyweight not fully convinced about how Ancelotti is using him | OneFootball

Real Madrid’s recent 3-1 defeat to AC Milan has caused all sorts of problems within the camp and the dressing room, with many truths regarding how the team is managed coming out in the open.

Federico Valverde is one of the players who has come into focus following the Milan defeat, especially after his wife vented on social media regarding the position Carlo Ancelotti is deploying him at.

Federico’s wife vents out

The controversy surfaced when Valverde’s partner, Mina Bonino, took to social media to express her discontent over his positional usage after the Milan defeat.

She openly criticized the idea of deploying Valverde as a winger, arguing that he is most effective when playing as a defensive pivot. “Fede plays best as a pivot. When are they going to understand once and for all that Fede is not a winger?”

Bonino later deleted her posts but not before igniting a debate over his role. As reported by AS, her words underscored Valverde’s unhappiness with being used in unfamiliar positions, including as a false winger.

Federico Valverde is unhappy at being played out of position (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)

Is Federico getting unfair treatment?

Valverde’s current situation is particularly disappointing considering he was once seen as the long-term replacement for Toni Kroos.

Designed to step into the German’s shoes after his retirement, Valverde has instead found himself in various roles, from a defensive pivot to a makeshift winger.

Despite some attacking highlights, including three goals this season, the heavy defensive workload has clearly affected his attacking contributions, leaving him with only two assists.

Moreover, with forwards like Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. making fewer defensive runs, Valverde has often had to cover more ground, exhausting his energy and limiting his attacking impact.

Ancelotti, though, has remained non-confrontational about this issue and so has Valverde. But as pressure mounts on Real Madrid players, the Italian must soon find a fix for the Urguayan international.