Real Madrid has released an update on Federico Valverde's injury, and unfortunately it points to several weeks on the sidelines, meaning he would miss El Clasico in a month.
Real Madrid has issued a new statement about Federico Valverde's injury. It says the Uruguayan suffered a grade 3 sprain in his left ankle. Although they don't mention a recovery timeline, it will most likely be at least 8 weeks. This is based on similar injuries suffered by Real Madrid or LaLiga players themselves.
Gerard Moreno, of Villarreal, suffered a complete ligament injury to his ankle after a clash. He opted for strict treatment without surgery, during which he spent a month without moving the area and then underwent reconditioning on grass for 3 weeks. In the end, he was out of the field for a total period of between 8 and 9 weeks.
The case of Frenkie de Jong (FC Barcelona) is a clear example that a grade 3 sprain should not be taken lightly. He had multiple sprains in his right ankle due to constant kicks and bad steps. This damaged his distal tibiofibular syndesmosis, which led to multiple relapses due to the instability he had in his ankle, resulting in approximately 5 months out.
Finally, the example of Eduardo Camavinga, who suffered a rupture of the lateral external ligament of his ankle and was expected to be out for 8 to 10 weeks. However, thanks to his genetics and the intensive treatments (triple-daily rehabilitation sessions) at Valdebebas, he was able to be ready in just 6 weeks.
The Uruguayan suffered this sprain last Sunday during the Madrid derby when the Merengues visited Atletico de Madrid at the Metropolitano. On a play in midfield, when Valverde was about to start a counterattack, the Colchonero forward Lee Kang-in gave him a studs-up challenge on the upper part of his left ankle; however, the referee decided not to show even a yellow card to the Korean.
This play has raised controversy since the final whistle of the match, with a sector of Madridismo blaming the referee's ineptitude and VAR for not having intervened in such a clear play. As well as criticizing Valverde himself for not having sold the foul, since he did not even make a gesture of pain, he received the kick that sent him to the grass, and practically instantly he was already on his feet to complain to Ortiz Arias.
It is likely that in the coming days the club will make official the recovery time the player will have. But what is clear (and confirmed by Madrid) is that the midfielder will not attend this international break with the Uruguay national team.
