Real Madrid News
‘I never imagined’ – Valverde makes emotional admission about captaining Real Madrid
Federico Valverde has once again demonstrated why he is one of Real Madrid’s most respected figures, opening up about the responsibility of captaining the club and his ambitions with the Uruguayan national team.
After another demanding season at the Santiago Bernabeu, the midfielder has shifted his focus to international football as Uruguay prepare for the upcoming World Cup.
Before the tournament gets underway, Valverde sat down with AUF TV (h/t AS) and reflected on some of the most significant moments of his career, including the privilege of leading Real Madrid onto the pitch.
The 27-year-old spoke candidly about the emotions that come with wearing one of football’s most iconic armbands and revealed why it remains one of the proudest achievements of his career.
Valverde reflects on Real Madrid captaincy
During the interview, the interviewer presented Valverde with the Real Madrid captain’s armband and asked him what it means to him, and the midfielder’s response highlighted the magnitude of the honour.
“It’s incredible; I never imagined I’d be captain of Real Madrid, and I enjoy it to the fullest every time I get to wear it.”
However, the Uruguayan also acknowledged that such a privilege brings enormous responsibility.
“It comes with a lot of pressure; when you don’t have it, you want it, and when you do have it, you just want a little peace.”
Valverde also revisited one of the standout moments of his career, recalling the unforgettable occasion when he scored a hat-trick against Manchester City while leading the team.
“The day I scored those three goals, wearing the captain’s armband meant a lot.
“What I experienced that day is similar to my debut with the national team.”
Looking ahead
As attention now turns to the World Cup, Valverde made it clear that his ambitions with Uruguay remain just as strong as his goals at club level.
Discussing the possibility of achieving international glory, he delivered a powerful statement, stating,
“If I win a title with the national team, I can die in peace,” he concluded.
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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