A leading member of the midfield ranks at La Liga giants Real Madrid played no part in group training on Monday morning.
The player in question? Federico Valverde.
Uruguayan international Valverde has of course played a more important role than ever in Carlo Ancelotti’s squad over recent weeks.
This comes with the 26-year-old having been tasked with filling in at right-back, amid the ongoing personnel woes in Real Madrid’s backline.
In turn, it may come as something of a concern for those of a Blancos persuasion to hear that Valverde was not involved in group training on Monday.
Just 48 hours out from Real’s Champions League playoff 2nd leg showdown with Manchester City, the midfielder was instead put through an individualised session inside the facilities at Valdebebas.
It is as of yet unclear precisely why, amid hopes that the decision came simply to afford Valverde some much-needed rest amid a key stretch of the season.
Conor Laird – GSFN
