Federico Valverde Injured: Real Madrid Confirms He Could Be Out for Three Weeks

Federico Valverde suffered a grade 3 sprain in his left ankle and could be sidelined for up to three weeks.

Real Madrid Confirms Federico Valverde Injury

Real Madrid confirmed Federico Valverde's injury after medical tests were carried out following the derby against Atlético Madrid. The Uruguayan midfielder suffered a grade 3 sprain in his left ankle, an injury that will force him to step away from competitive action while he continues his recovery.

The injury occurred during the match against Atlético, following a strong challenge from Kang In Lee that left the midfielder with significant discomfort in his ankle. Despite the impact, Valverde continued playing, meaning the full extent of the injury was only determined through tests conducted after the match.

Federico Valverde Could Be Out for Three Weeks

The club officially reported that the player underwent further examinations by Real Madrid's Medical Services, after an initial diagnosis of severe trauma to the same area. The new diagnosis provided a clearer picture of the extent of the physical problem.

In its statement, the club said that Fede Valverde was diagnosed with a grade 3 sprain in his left ankle and that his recovery will be monitored closely. However, the Spanish club did not publicly specify an exact number of days he will be sidelined.

The main question now concerns how long Federico Valverde will remain out of action. Although Real Madrid did not provide a specific recovery timeline in its medical report, information attributed to a source at ESPN points to an absence of between two and three weeks.

The Heavy Challenge That Caused Valverde's Injury

The origin of Federico Valverde's injury came during one of the most controversial moments of the Madrid derby. The Uruguayan received a heavy challenge from Kang In Lee that sparked protests during the match, although the incident did not result in a red card for the Atlético Madrid player.

After the match, Real Madrid's initial medical report had already stated that Valverde had suffered severe trauma to his left ankle. The club said at the time that he would undergo further tests to rule out any additional damage and determine the full extent of the injury.

Uruguay Begins Diego Forlán Era Without Federico Valverde

Federico Valverde's injury forced Uruguay to leave him out of the squad for the Asian friendly tour that marks the beginning of Diego Forlán's tenure as interim head coach. According to the manager, the long-distance travel could increase the swelling in Valverde's ankle, so the midfielder will remain in Spain to continue his recovery.

To cover his absence, Forlán called up Emiliano Martínez, of Palmeiras. Uruguay will face Japan on September 24, South Korea on September 28, and India on October 6, in a tour that will mark the beginning of this new era without one of the team's key leaders.