Fede Valverde excited to work under childhood hero Diego Forlán

Real Madrid midfielder Fede Valverde has returned to the Uruguay national team setup, marking his first opportunity to play under the guidance of his childhood idol, Diego Forlán. Having missed the October international window due to an injury, the 28-year-old is now preparing for upcoming friendly matches against Argentina and the Dominican Republic.

The connection between the two runs deep, as they previously shared the pitch as teammates at Peñarol. Years ago, a teenage Valverde provided the assist for Forlán’s first goal for the club. Reflecting on their evolving relationship, Forlán noted he saw star potential in Valverde when he was just 17.

A new chapter for La Celeste

"Contento de volver a estar en la selección... de poder disfrutar de un ídolo como Diego."

Fede Valverde

Valverde expressed his enthusiasm about the new coaching methods and the goal of restoring pride to the national team following their difficult World Cup campaign. He emphasized that the focus is on building a positive atmosphere and unity within the group.

"We only talked about coming to bring good energy, to add to the team, to the group."

Fede Valverde

The midfielder remains committed to learning from his former teammate, who has long been a vocal supporter of his career trajectory from Deportivo La Coruña to his current success in Madrid.