Valverde's Road to Recovery: When Real Madrid's Captain Could Make His Triumphant Return

As if a defeat to fierce rivals Atlético Madrid wasn't painful enough, Real Madrid were dealt another blow with a significant injury to captain Federico Valverde at the Metropolitano.

Valverde was selected alongside Aurélien Tchouaméni in José Mourinho's double pivot and quickly became a focal point of controversy during the team's 2–1 loss. The Uruguayan was on the receiving end of a reckless, late foul from Atlético Madrid's Kang-In Lee, who drove his studs into Valverde's ankle.

To Mourinho's frustration, the challenge failed to draw even a yellow card from referee Miguel Ángel Ortiz Arias. The Portuguese manager and the club voiced their displeasure after the final whistle, insisting the tackle warranted a red card — a view reinforced by the fact that Valverde now appears to have sustained an injury as a result.

What Injury Does Fede Valverde Have?

Real Madrid confirmed shortly after the Madrid derby that Valverde had immediately undergone medical tests and was diagnosed with an ankle injury.

The club disclosed that the midfielder sustained "severe trauma" to his left ankle during the match against Atlético Madrid and will require additional tests to assess the full extent of the damage.

Valverde has no prior history of ankle problems, which may work in his favor depending on how serious the injury proves to be. Regardless, Real Madrid will be anxiously monitoring their captain's condition given the squad's already limited depth in midfield.

When Will Fede Valverde Return From Injury?

Real Madrid did not provide a specific return timeline in their official statement, but The Athletic reports the captain is expected to be sidelined for two to three weeks. Valverde is now set to remain in Madrid during the international break rather than linking up with the Uruguay national team.

If Valverde's absence is limited to just a few weeks, he could potentially make a full recovery during the extended fall international window without missing any competitive fixtures for Real Madrid, who don't resume domestic action until Oct. 10 against Villarreal.

Should he require additional recovery time, he could aim for a return on Oct. 14, when Los Blancos face Roma in the Champions League.

Further updates from Real Madrid are expected as the international break progresses.