Real Madrid News
Barcelona icon hails Real Madrid midfielder: “Reminded me of Steven Gerrard”
For the better half of the last decade, Luis Suarez tormented Real Madrid’s defence in every El Clasico. The Uruguayan, aptly nicknamed El Pistolero, was known for his killer instinct in front of goal and etched his name into football history as the only player to outscore Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in a season at their peaks.
After a short stint at Atletico Madrid, Suarez closed the curtains on his career in Europe earlier this year and moved to Nacional. He remains a key member of Uruguay’s National team where he shares the dressing room with Federico Valverde.
The Barcelona legend spoke to MARCA recently where he shared his thoughts on Valverde’s growth as a footballer. Speaking about the midfielder’s debut for the National team, he said,
“When Fede Valverde made his debut with the National Team in 2017, I said that he reminded me of Steven Gerrard.”
Having the right environment is crucial for any player to develop his game. Suarez stressed the benefits of being surrounded by the best players in the world and said that Valverde’s astronomical growth was influenced by that factor too.
“Fede Valverde has made great progress, surrounded by big stars. It did him a lot of good.”
In just eight games this season, the 24-year-old has scored four goals and provided two assists. Though traditionally a midfielder, Carlo Ancelotti has found a way to deploy Valverde as a winger this season as the results are a testament to the setup’s success.
Both players are expected to represent La Celeste in the upcoming FIFA World Cup and will look to justify their nation’s perennial tag of being giant killers.
Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia dreams of playing for Spanish giants Real Madrid, the winger’s father has revealed following the UEFA Champions League clash between the two teams last night.
Kvaratskhelia, 22, exploded upon arriving at Napoli last year, leading them to the Serie A title on the back of his explosive performances.
The Georgian winger has been impressing in the ongoing campaign as well, although he failed to score or assist in either of Napoli’s meetings with Real Madrid in the Champions League group stages.
Kvaratskhelia has previously spoken about how he has always been a lifelong supporter of Real Madrid and grew up idolising some of the club’s legends like Cristiano Ronaldo and Guti, among others.
Now, the 22-year-old winger’s father has revealed that his son has always dreamt of and continues to dream of playing for Real Madrid.
As quoted by Fabrizio Romano, Kvaratskhelia’s father said: “Khvicha always dreamed and still dreams of playing for Real Madrid. I am sure about it.”
Talking about the fact that the winger got to play against Real Madrid, Kvaratskhelia’s father added: “For Khvicha, playing vs Real Madrid was special. In my family, everyone is a Real Madrid supporter, except me.”
Real Madrid are in the market for attacking reinforcements, but they are looking for a centre-forward next summer and have Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland as their main targets.
As for Kvaratskhelia, whose market value stands at €85 million, it seems quite apparent that he harbours dreams of playing for Real Madrid. But it remains to be seen if there is some interest from Los Blancos in signing the winger.
