Real Madrid started the 2024-25 season by winning the UEFA Super Cup against Atalanta. The Spanish club has grown from strength to strength over the years. Carlo Ancelotti is the main man behind all this success. He has a young team and the manager has got the best out of his players. Real Madrid added a superstar in the form of Kylian Mbappe ahead of the 2024-25 season. His addition makes them a more dangerous team. But they lost one of their key players.
Losing Toni Kroos is a huge setback for any team. Kroos carried the team on his shoulders for a good time. He was one of their best players in the 2023-24 season. The German passed on his legacy to another established player. Federico Valverde took Kroos’ No. 8 and all the responsibilities of the German. Both players are different, with Valverde offering more pace and energy.
Real Madrid didn’t make a perfect start to the LaLiga season. However, Valverde has given them even bigger hopes. He has taken the responsibility to lead the midfield. Let’s look at how Valverde has performed in the first three matches of the 2024-25 season.
Box-to-box midfielder
Carlo Ancelotti was without a proper No. 9 in the 2023-24 campaign. Joselu was there but he wasn’t a regular starter. Real Madrid brought Kylian Mbappe and that changed the formation of the team. The formation changed from 4-4-2 to 4-3-3.
Federico Valverde plays on the right side of the midfield three. He can play in the centre and can also go wide on occasion. The 26-year-old has covered a lot of area on the field. Most of the touches came in the middle third of the opposition team.
Valverde often makes some box penetration runs and looks to find a teammate inside the box. Real Madrid have a pacey front three. These players often like to stretch the defence. This also allows players like Valverde to get to the end of crosses.
The Uruguayan scored his first goal of the season similarly. He netted the opener against Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup. Vinicius Junior delivered a low cross into the six-yard box and Valverde touched it into the back of the net. Valverde scored his second goal in the league. This time he converted a long-range effort. Both goals show that Valverde is a big threat and the opposition can’t leave him alone.
One area where Valverde needs some improvement is in creating goals for his teammates. Kroos was a creative force for Real Madrid. He carried the ball from defence and created most of the attacks for the team. Valverde is also a good distributor of the ball. Most of his passes are lateral passes and this is how Real Madrid create their plays. The Uruguayan will aim to deliver more assists in the season ahead.
Another big quality of the Uruguayan is his defensive work. Federico Valverde has already made six interceptions in three games. He has yet to commit a foul.
Federico Valverde will be a key for Real Madrid. He can score and defend the goal. His energy on the pitch can lift the spirit of the team.
Visuals via TFA data viz engine