In a season that has seen Fede Valverde return to his peak, the Real Madrid midfielder sat down for a revealing interview with 'Terapia Picante'. The Uruguayan reflected on the defining chapters of a career that is already remarkably decorated, identifying his controversial clash with Alvaro Morata as one of his most significant emotional hurdles.

"It wasn't an image for children, but in that split second, I felt I had to give everything for the team. I knew the red card was inevitable. I lost my head, but I did what was necessary. My only thought was that Real Madrid had to win. I'm South American, I'm hot-blooded; sometimes you just want to go through them," the midfielder admitted during the discussion.

Addressing his long-standing nickname, 'Pajarito', he recalled his early days: "I was very slight and thin, but I covered every blade of grass. One of my coaches started calling me that. My father was the only one who didn't like it, but now I've evolved into the 'Hawk' because I'm more aggressive on the pitch. Even so, I'll always be the 'Little Bird' at heart."

Valverde also discussed his trademark long-range shooting, revealing a nervous moment from his youth: "I once injured Luca Zidane's shoulder. I was mortified; I honestly thought I'd be sacked for injuring Zidane's son! Several goalkeepers have suffered because of my shots, particularly with dislocated shoulders. I have quite thin legs, so I'm not entirely sure where I find that kind of power."

Fede Valverde pointed to his performance against Manchester City this season as a career high: "Everything just clicked for me. I never imagined I could score three goals; it was surreal. Those were 50 unforgettable minutes in my career. The best part was feeling that connection with the fans. I'd told my wife the day before that I hoped to score, but three? That was unthinkable!"

Á. Morata

Personal Data

Career Info

Career Totals