Real Madrid captain Federico Valverde has been diagnosed with a grade three sprain in his left ankle following the club’s 2-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the weekend derby.
The Uruguay international sustained the injury during a challenge involving Atletico midfielder Lee Kang-in. Real Madrid have argued that the tackle warranted a red card, adding another point of contention to a match that saw Jose Mourinho’s side suffer defeat.
“After the tests carried out today on our player Fede Valverde by the Real Madrid medical services, he has been diagnosed with a grade 3 sprain in his left ankle,” the club said in a statement on Tuesday.
Spanish media reports indicate that Valverde could be sidelined for several weeks as he recovers from the injury.
His absence is also expected to affect Uruguay’s plans during the upcoming international break. The midfielder is reportedly set to miss friendlies against Japan, South Korea and India.
The injury adds to the frustration surrounding Real Madrid’s derby loss, particularly given the club’s complaints about the officiating.
Mourinho made his feelings clear after the match, arriving at his post-game press conference with printed screenshots showing two challenges involving Atletico players that he believed should have resulted in red cards.
One of the incidents highlighted by the Real Madrid coach was Lee’s tackle on Valverde, which ultimately left the midfielder injured.
Real Madrid had taken the lead in the derby but Atletico fought back to secure a 2-1 victory, leaving Mourinho’s side to deal with both the result and the injury to their captain.
Valverde has become an important figure for Real Madrid, and his expected absence could leave the club without one of its key midfield options for several weeks.
The club is yet to provide a specific recovery timeline, meaning his progress will be monitored as he begins rehabilitation from the ankle sprain.
