Real Madrid News
Ancelotti considers ‘untouchable’ Real Madrid midfielder as ‘one of the best in the world’
Over the past couple of seasons, Federico Valverde has grown a lot in stature at Real Madrid. Even though he has had to compete with the likes of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos, the Uruguayan international has managed to carve out a spot for himself in the side.
A central midfielder by trade, Valverde has also made himself a very useful option for the right-wing berth under Carlo Ancelotti and continues to put in tremendous displays one after the other irrespective of where he is deployed by the manager.
Valverde was the Man of the Match as Real Madrid defeated RB Leipzig 2-0 in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night. The 24-year-old scored another goal last night to build on his wondrous strike against RCD Mallorca over the weekend.
Recently, there have been a lot of reports claiming that Valverde was a target for Liverpool late in the summer transfer window, with the Reds even pondering making a club-record bid to pry him away from Real Madrid, although the two clubs have downplayed those rumours.
And reliable transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has now provided an update on those speculations, stating that Valverde’s name was never discussed by any suitor during the summer window as he is regarded as ‘untouchable’ by Real Madrid.
The 24-year-old Uruguayan is a favourite of Ancelotti. So much so that, the Italian tactician and his coaching staff consider Valverde to be ‘one of the best in the world’ in the present and for the future, Romano adds.
Valverde joined Real Madrid from Uruguayan outfit Penarol in the summer of 2016 for a fee of just €5 million. One of the jewels unearthed by Juni Calafat, the 24-year-old spent a year with Castilla and then had a loan spell at Deportivo La Coruna before becoming a first-team member.
To date, he has made 156 appearances for the Merengues, scoring nine goals and setting up ten more. Valverde signed a new long-term contract with Real Madrid last year, committing his future to the Spanish capital club until 2027.
Real Madrid will be looking to pick up their fifth win of the 2026/27 La Liga season when they take on Elche CF at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero later tonight.
With 12 points from five games, Los Blancos are currently second in the league table, three points below leaders FC Barcelona.
As such, the Spanish capital club will be eager to get the win and close the gap to the top.
Guler starts, Bellingham rested
Ahead of kickoff, Real Madrid have announced the starting lineup that will take the field against Elche, with Jose Mourinho making some important changes.
For starters, Arda Guler is back in the lineup after appearing as a substitute in the win over Rayo Vallecano.
Interestingly, however, he starts in the attacking midfield role, with Mourinho opting to rest Jude Bellingham, who has started all of Real Madrid’s games so far.
That also means that Yan Diomande retains his place in the team, starting for a second time in a row on the right wing. Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. continue in their respective positions in attack.
Another notable change sees Aurelien Tchouameni make his first start of the season after recovering from injury and making two appearances off the bench.
He replaces Bernardo Silva as Federico Valverde’s partner in the middle of the park.
Meanwhile, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Marc Cucurella come in as full-backs, while Ibrahima Konate and Dean Huijsen slot in at centre-back in front of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
📋✅ ¡Nuestro XI inicial!
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) September 15, 2026
🆚 @ElcheCF
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Mokgothu Leboko
September 15, 2022 at 1:12 pm
Yes,Federico Valverde is now playing wonders,if he does not on the ball the team looks to be lost but just as the ball is at his feet all players become active and start to see the light.Valverde is gonna one-day make a good striker,as he is able to play any position.I like when he start to have the ball from deep on his side and start to cross to the opponent side running with the ball,I usually know something has to happen.He is a good player.
Alfredo Castro
September 15, 2022 at 5:16 pm
Fede is quickly becoming one of the pillars of this Madrid’s present & future. It is exciting to see these youngsters stepping up and producing as if they were 10-year vets. Hala Madrid!
Sarki Mohammed Yaro
September 15, 2022 at 6:20 pm
Fede is now the secret of Real Madrid. He is going, strong, quick and agile. Madrid is blessed to have Modric and Casimero, Rodrigo, Nacho and Kronos in one. He sparks the game when everyone is asleep.
In Fede, Vinga and Aurelien Mddrid is in the next generation already