Real Madrid News
Toni Kroos heaps praise on in-form Real Madrid superstar – ‘He’s been flying’
Federico Valverde is experiencing one of the best periods of his career and has become a key figure for Real Madrid in recent weeks.
Having endured a mixed first half of the season under Xabi Alonso, the Uruguayan international has hit his strides since Alvaro Arbeloa took over the reins in January.
The midfielder delivered a decisive hat-trick against Manchester City in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 and has recorded five goal involvements in his last six league matches.
Kroos in awe of Valverde
Valverde’s impact has been so significant that Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos has openly praised him.
The former German midfielder, who retired in 2024, spoke about his ex-teammate while working as a commentator during a broadcast of the Icon League in Germany.
“You could say that, in what had been a rather mediocre season for Real Madrid, he gave the impression of being able to carry the team on his shoulders,” Kroos said (h/t AS), highlighting Valverde’s growing influence on the team’s play and results.
Continuing, Kroos added: “Things weren’t perfect for him either, but that surge, the match against City, for me it’s no fluke, because he’s a guy who not only has quality, but also the right mentality.
“Since then he’s been flying on the pitch. It’s truly incredible how he’s playing right now. I hope it lasts a long time, because I have a very good relationship with him.”
So far this season, Valverde has made 42 appearances in all competitions, scoring eight and assisting 12 goals.
Apart from the hat-trick against Manchester City, Valverde has scored a goal in each of Real Madrid’s last three La Liga games against Celta Vigo, Elche, and Atletico Madrid.
One of the biggest positives for Real Madrid from the last season was the breakthrough of young midfielder Thiago Pitarch.
The 19-year-old La Fabrica prospect had been in the first-team dynamics since pre-season under Xabi Alonso, but finally got his senior debut under Alvaro Arbeloa at the turn of the year.
From that moment on, Pitarch did not look back at all, gaining prominence in the team and even starting important matches ahead of established players like Eduardo Camavinga and Dani Ceballos.
However, things have not gone as per plans for the teenager this season as he has yet to play a single minute of first-team football.
January loan no longer ruled out
As such, Diario AS now reports that Pitarch would consider leaving Real Madrid on loan during the January transfer window if his situation does not improve.
The teenage midfielder suffered an injury in pre-season which kept him sidelined for a few weeks, denying him an opportunity to start the season under Jose Mourinho.
By the time he returned, the Portuguese tactician had already identified his preferred hierarchy in midfield, with the likes of Federico Valverde, Bernardo Silva, Aurelien Tchouameni and Camavinga firmly ahead in the pecking order.
A stark difference from his debut season
In his debut season, Pitarch ended with 16 first-team appearances for Real Madrid with two assists to his name.
In contrast, this term, the academy graduate has been called up to the matchday squad for five games by Mourinho this term, but has yet to play a single minute of football.
Given the situation, he used the international break to jump down to Castilla and play close to 250 minutes across three games, during which he also registered an assist.
The situation is far from ideal for a young talent who needs regular minutes to continue his development and build on his impressive breakthrough campaign.
As such, the possibility of a departure on loan in January could be considered, after Pitarch turned down offers in the summer to stay at Real Madrid.
A lot will depend on how things evolve in the next couple of months, but a temporary exit cannot be ruled out.
