Football Daily Euro Leagues: Is Valverde the world’s most underrated player?
Mar 12, 2026
Victor Font, Barcelona presidential hopeful, outlines his vision and financial plans. James Horncastle, Serie A and European competitions expert, discusses Atalanta and Bayern. Julien Laurens, Paris and European football specialist, talks Kvaratskhelia and PSG. Guillem Balagué, Spanish football analyst, covers Real Madrid, Valverde and transfers. They debate Valverde’s standing, Kvaratskhelia’s impact and Olise’s breakout displays.
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Miracle Night At The Bernabéu
- Guillem Balague described emotional scenes at the Bernabéu where fans were crying at half-time during Valverde's hat-trick game.
- He called such high emotion "the miracle of the Bernabéu" and recounted touching strangers in celebration.
Valverde's Rise From Utility To Central Leader
- Federico Valverde is a quietly dominant leader whose output rose once he returned to his preferred central midfield role.
- Guillem Balague traced Valverde's growth from Peñarol to Real Madrid Castilla and highlighted his work-rate, positional clarity, and leadership under Ancelotti.
Underrated Publicly But Essential To Madrid's Success
- Valverde may be underappreciated publicly but is highly valued by teammates and opponents for doing the unattractive tasks that win trophies.
- Steve Crossman and James Horncastle emphasised team appreciation from figures like Jude Bellingham and Carlo Ancelotti's tactical use of Valverde.