Guille Varela described Valverde as a standout figure both for club and country: “Fede sets the bar very high for us Uruguayans. It is not normal what he is doing and to stand out with the stars he plays with. He is Real Madrid’s captain and is a crucial player there. It is something from a different planet.”
Joaquin Piquerez echoed the sentiment, highlighting Valverde’s global class and urging the team to maximize his influence on the pitch. “Fede has been proving for a long time that he is one of the best players in the world. That is why we have to take advantage of him in Uruguay and improve the rest of our game. You have to take advantage of the fact that he is in great form and get a good result against England,” he said.
Valverde has been a key figure for Real Madrid, combining leadership and consistent performances, and Uruguay will be hoping to harness his form as they face one of Europe’s strongest sides in London.