Fede Valverde Opens Up on Viral Moments, Zidane, and Ancelotti in Candid Interview

In a wide-ranging conversation with Terapia Picante, Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde peeled back the curtain on the moments that have defined his career, from the thunderous shots that have sidelined goalkeepers to the split-second decision that earned him a red card in a Super Cup final.

The 25-year-old Uruguayan laughed as he recalled the collateral damage of his strike. “I’ve injured a goalkeeper or two. I injured Luca Zidane’s shoulder. I was devastated, I thought they were going to fire me. I injured Zidane’s son,” Valverde said, adding that most of the damage has been to shoulders. “I have really skinny legs, I don’t know where I get them from.”

Valverde also revisited the infamous tackle on Álvaro Morata in the Spanish Super Cup, a challenge that instantly went viral and became a talking point across world football. “It’s not an image for children. But at that moment I felt I had to take the risk for the team. I knew I was going to get sent off,” he admitted. “I’m Uruguayan, sometimes things get out of hand, but I did what I had to do. I was only thinking that Real Madrid had to win.”

The midfielder traced his evolution from a slight, energetic teenager nicknamed “little bird” by one coach—much to his father’s displeasure—to the more aggressive presence he calls “the hawk.” Yet, he insists, the original moniker still fits: “I’m still ‘little bird.’”

One of the highlights of his career, Valverde said, came against Manchester City, when he scored a hat-trick in a scintillating 50-minute spell. “Everything went my way against City. I never thought I could score three goals. It was incredible,” he said, adding that the roar of the fans made the night unforgettable. “The day before, I told my wife I hoped I’d score, but three goals? Unthinkable.”

Valverde reserved special praise for two managers who shaped his trajectory. Of Zinedine Zidane, he said: “He gave me tranquility and peace of mind, knowing that things would work out for me. The fact that he would ask about my wife and children on a daily basis made me very happy.”

Carlo Ancelotti, now in his second stint at the Bernabéu, drew even warmer words. “Ancelotti made me believe in myself. He’s like family to me. I love him very much,” Valverde said. “The way he made us feel every day. That hunger and that desire to win. Ancelotti is the most complete.”

From accidental injuries to match-winning explosions, Valverde’s interview underlined a player comfortable with his past, energized by the present, and eager for the chapters still to be written.