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La Liga

Federico Valverde Injury: Real Madrid Confirm Severe Ankle Trauma After Madrid Derby

By WAF News Desk 3 min read
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Real Madrid have confirmed that Federico Valverde suffered severe trauma to his left ankle during their 2-1 La Liga defeat to Atletico Madrid, adding a major injury concern to an already painful derby loss.

The club issued an official medical update after tests were carried out by Real Madrid’s medical services on Sunday, September 20. Valverde is due to undergo further examinations in the coming hours before a definitive recovery timeline is established.

The injury came during a fiercely contested Madrid derby at the Metropolitano, where Atletico beat their city rivals 2-1. Valverde was caught on the ankle in a challenge involving Lee Kang-in, one of several incidents that became a major talking point after the final whistle.

How long could Federico Valverde be out?

Real Madrid have not yet placed an official timeframe on Valverde’s absence. Their medical statement confirmed the severity of the trauma but stopped short of diagnosing a specific ligament injury or announcing a return date.

Reports in Spain and from beIN Sports suggest the Uruguay international could face approximately two to three weeks on the sidelines, although that estimate remains provisional until the additional tests are completed. The timing of the international break may reduce the number of Real Madrid matches he misses, but his availability for Uruguay is now in serious doubt.

For Real Madrid, the key issue will be whether the tests reveal damage beyond the initial trauma. Until those results are known, any exact return date should be treated cautiously.

Valverde injury compounds Real Madrid derby defeat

Valverde’s setback was one of several major developments from an explosive derby. Real Madrid finished with 10 men after Dean Huijsen was sent off, while Atletico took advantage to secure a 2-1 victory through goals from Alejandro Grimaldo and Jonathan David. Antonio Rudiger scored late for Real Madrid but could not rescue a point.

Manager Jose Mourinho was highly critical of the officiating after the match and specifically highlighted the challenge that injured Valverde. The result left Real Madrid behind Barcelona in the early La Liga title race, increasing the importance of having one of their most influential midfielders available when domestic football resumes.

Why Valverde’s absence matters for Real Madrid

Valverde remains central to Madrid’s midfield because of his ability to cover ground, press, carry the ball and contribute in both defensive and attacking phases. He had also scored in Real Madrid’s 2-1 Champions League victory over Inter earlier in September.

Even a relatively short absence would force Mourinho to adjust his midfield during a period in which Real Madrid are balancing La Liga and Champions League commitments. A longer layoff would create a more significant selection problem.

The immediate focus is now on the second round of medical tests. Real Madrid’s confirmation of severe ankle trauma makes Valverde’s fitness one of the club’s biggest stories heading into the international break, with supporters waiting for clarity on whether the midfielder will be ready when Madrid return to competitive action.

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