Manchester City has initiated discussions regarding a potential transfer for Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde, aiming to take advantage of the uncertainty surrounding the Uruguayan in the Spanish capital.
This news was shared by journalist Miguel Serrano. While Manchester City has not made an official written bid yet, they have reached out to Los Blancos to assess the situation regarding the player, who is expected to take on a captaincy role.
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According to Serrano, club officials have stated they will only entertain offers if the 27-year-old expresses a desire to leave, setting a firm valuation of €100 million for him.
Internal Issues and a Challenging Season
This sudden interest from the Premier League giants comes at a particularly difficult juncture in Valverde’s career at Madrid.
The Uruguayan international has been facing a significant dip in form, openly expressing his dissatisfaction with the underwhelming performance of the club this season.
This challenging form impacted his international duties as well, where Valverde led Uruguay in a disheartening FIFA World Cup campaign, resulting in an early exit during the group stage.
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Adding to his struggles on the pitch, Valverde was involved in a notable altercation during training with his teammate Aurelien Tchouameni.
This confrontation resulted in Valverde being hospitalized with a head injury, prompting Real Madrid to implement formal disciplinary measures against both players.
The incident revealed significant discord within the squad, leading to speculation about players’ futures. While Tchouameni has since signed a new contract with Real Madrid, questions remain about Valverde’s status.
Jose Mourinho’s View on Valverde
Despite the unrest in the squad, newly appointed coach Jose Mourinho holds a strong admiration for Valverde, viewing him as an essential component of his tactical plans.
Mourinho has confidence in Valverde. (Photo courtesy: Real Madrid official website)
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The Portuguese manager expresses no doubts about the 27-year-old and is prepared to support him as captain.
Interestingly, Manchester City’s interest in Valverde coincides with similar movements in the transfer market.
Earlier this month, reports indicated that Real Madrid had offered Eduardo Camavinga to the Premier League side, which prompted Manchester City to flip the inquiry towards Valverde instead.
While Real Madrid insists that Valverde is technically “not transferable,” they appear to see him as somewhat open to offers if the significant valuation of €100 million is met.