Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde left out of Uruguay squad for October friendlies | OneFootball

Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde won’t be heading off on international duty with Uruguay this month after being left out of Marcelo Bielsa’s squad.

The tireless midfielder will remain in the Spanish capital, giving manager Xabi Alonso a chance to rest one of his key players.

Valverde’s absence from the Uruguay squad isn’t due to injury or controversy. It’s a mutual decision between the 27-year-old and Bielsa.

Uruguay has already secured their place in the 2026 World Cup, which means they only face friendlies against the Dominican Republic and Uzbekistan.

The break comes at a perfect time for Valverde. He played 65 times across all competitions last season, bagging 11 goals and eight assists.

He has had no chance to catch his breath this term, with only Dean Huijsen, Alvaro Carreras, Aurelien Tchouameni and Kylian Mbappe racking up more minutes among outfield players.

After months of playing consecutive games, Valverde can finally recharge physically and mentally while continuing to adapt to Alonso’s brand of football.

Skipping the long-haul flights to South America means less fatigue and more time spent focused on the training ground – something every player appreciates as the season heats up.

Jude Bellingham and Tchouameni also have the chance to put their feet up, as England and France opted not to call them up.

Dani Ceballos, Fran Garcia, Alvaro Carreras and Endrick will also be around, along with several players still recovering from injuries.

Valverde has already featured nine times in all competitions this season, providing three assists.

Madrid travel to Getafe when club football returns before hosting Juventus in the Champions League.