Real Madrid is preparing to face Celta Vigo, which will be the first major test for Carlo Ancelotti’s men after the current international break.
The technical staff is aware that Celta Vigo will be very dangerous on their home ground, and the players will need to perform at their best to outmatch Iago Aspas and his teammates, especially since this match precedes the Clasico against Barcelona.
According to information from the Spanish newspaper Defensa Central, Ancelotti is very concerned about the team’s key players due to their numerous appearances for both the club and the national team, particularly Fede Valverde.
The newspaper added that Carlo Ancelotti considers Valverde to be the true leader of Real Madrid in the locker room, thanks to his strong leadership qualities.
Carlo Ancelotti stated about the Uruguayan: “He continues to progress and shows greater responsibility towards the team. It is not difficult to say that he is an irreplaceable player due to his quality, strength, and intelligence.
We are fortunate to have him with us. When Kroos left the club, Valverde was the ideal choice, not only in terms of quality but also in terms of mentality.”
Valverde’s importance is also evident in the statistics, which confirm that he is an irreplaceable player. In the 2023-24 season, Valverde was the player with the most minutes played for Real Madrid, totaling 4,280 minutes, surpassing Antonio Rudiger, and he missed just one match out of 55.
This season, the situation has not changed, as Valverde has become the midfielder with the most minutes played, ahead of Kylian Mbappé, with only Thibaut Courtois having played more minutes.
These numbers are expected to increase next Saturday at the Balaídos stadium against Celta Vigo.
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