Federico Valverde is officially back at Valdebebas, hitting the training pitch for Real Madrid’s preseason. He returned on Wednesday, July 22, which just so happened to be his birthday. Talk about a working celebration! But this isn’t just a regular return to work; Valverde has been handed the massive responsibility of being named the team’s first captain for the upcoming season. Arda Guler also returned earlier on Monday, but Valverde’s new role makes his comeback even bigger.
New Coach, New Era for “The Falcon”
Valverde wasted no time, going through his medical tests and jumping straight into training with the available first team and some youngsters under the new boss, Jose Mourinho. You can tell he’s ready to turn things around. After his first session, he told Real Madrid TV he’s super eager to learn from Mourinho. He said he’s “looking forward to learning from him, listening to every piece of advice he gives me, and making the most of every training session.” The guy wants to grow as both a person and a player, calling Mourinho a “special person” from whom he can learn a ton. That kind of hunger is exactly what you want from your new captain.
Leading the Way After Rough Seasons
Being named captain is a huge honor for “The Falcon.” He’s feeling “a great deal of excitement and honour” and thinking about “everything I’ve been through to get here.” He’s ready to enjoy the moment, but also knows it’s time to step up. Valverde credits past legends like Dani Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Toni Kroos, Luka Modrić, and Lucas Vázquez for teaching him so much. Now, it’s his turn to pay it forward and help his teammates. Look, the last two seasons haven’t been kind to Valverde. Real Madrid missed out on major silverware, and his performance with Uruguay at the World Cup was, well, underwhelming, with the team getting knocked out in the group stage. Plus, he’s been caught up in some controversies with both his club and national teams. The pressure is on, and he knows it. He’s making it clear that not just him, but “the entire team wants to start winning trophies again.”
It’s a fresh start for Valverde with Mourinho at the helm, and you have to hope he can turn a new page and get back to his best. Real Madrid fans are definitely hoping for a season full of success and pride.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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