Derby defeat turns into a nightmare! Real Madrid lose their captain for weeks
The wounds from the Madrid derby just got much deeper for Real Madrid. Captain Federico Valverde faces a spell on the sidelines after tests revealed the true extent of his injury.
Details: According to Polymarket Sports, Valverde suffered a grade 3 ankle sprain in the 2-1 loss to Atletico Madrid and is expected to miss multiple weeks. The injury occurred when Kang-In Lee accidentally stepped on his left ankle during the derby.
The incident has become a central point of the refereeing scandal engulfing Spanish football: Lee received no card for the challenge, Real Madrid published an official statement blasting the officiating, and today the CTA effectively admitted mistakes were made in the derby, vindicating Mourinho's furious post-match outburst. On the pitch, the consequences are brutal: the Uruguayan is the heartbeat of this Real side, and losing him for a grade 3 sprain, an injury that typically requires careful management, leaves a gaping hole in midfield just as the team trails Barcelona by six points in La Liga. There is some disagreement over the exact timeline: the club are optimistic he could return shortly after the international break in two to three weeks, while some reports in Spain suggest up to eight weeks out. At 27, Valverde has been remarkably durable throughout his career, and Uruguay will also be sweating, with their captain now a doubt for the upcoming national team fixtures. For Mourinho, it is the worst possible start to life back at the Bernabeu: a derby defeat, a war with the referees, and now his on-field general in the treatment room.
It's worth noting that Valverde has been one of the most reliable players in world football, playing over 50 matches in each of the last four seasons for club and country.
Reminder: Mourinho was right! CTA admits refereeing errors in the Madrid derby!
Miguel Solomons
Dailysports's expert
