Federico Valverde diagnosed with grade 3 ankle sprain

Real Madrid captain Federico Valverde has been diagnosed with a grade 3 left ankle sprain following a tackle by Atletico Madrid's Lee Kang-in during the recent Madrid derby. The injury occurred during the first half of the match, which ended in a 2-1 defeat for Real Madrid.

While official club statements describe the injury as a grade 3 sprain, medical estimates vary regarding the recovery timeline. Some reports suggest a period of two to three weeks, potentially allowing a return for matches in October, while other assessments indicate the injury could sideline him for up to two or three months.

As a result of the injury, Valverde will miss upcoming international friendly matches with the Uruguay national team against Japan, South Korea, and India. Uruguay has named Emiliano Martínez as his replacement. Real Madrid manager José Mourinho expressed significant dissatisfaction with the officiating, noting that the tackle should have resulted in a red card.