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Real Madrid head coach José Mourinho has confirmed that Federico Valverde can now be considered a full-time member of his defensive ranks.
Midfielder Valverde has for his part of course spent recent weeks filling in in a familiar role in Real Madrid’s XI.
After previously excelling as a rampaging full-back under the watch of Carlo Ancelotti, the Uruguayan has been entrusted with filling the right-back slot in José Mourinho’s line-up across a number of high-profile fixtures.
This comes despite a pair of highly-regarded natural right-backs being at the disposal of Real’s headmaster, namely Trent Alexander-Arnold and summer signing Denzel Dumfries.
Speaking during an appearance in front of the media on Tuesday, the subject of his plans for Valverde moving forward was therefore put to Mourinho himself.
And the Portuguese tactician was honest in his response, explaining:
“I’m very happy with Fede Valverde at right-back, and it’s true that the team plays better with him there. But since we don’t have many players in midfield, I’m sure someday, Fede will play midfield again, occasionally.
”But yes, Fede is playing right-back right now.”
Conor Laird – GSFN
