Federico Valverde diagnosed with grade-three ankle sprain after Madrid derby

Injury diagnosis and derby incident

Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde sustained a grade-three sprain in his left ankle during the team's 2-1 defeat against Atletico Madrid in the seventh round of LaLiga. The injury occurred during the first half after a tackle from Atletico winger Lee Kang-in, who caught Valverde with his studs on the leg without drawing a foul or a booking from the match official. Although Valverde completed the full ninety minutes without showing immediate visible signs of the sprain, medical tests conducted on Tuesday confirmed severe joint trauma and a complete ligament tear. Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho had substituted three other midfielders during the derby while leaving the Uruguayan international on the pitch. Real Madrid subsequently released an official medical report confirming the grade-three diagnosis, adding that his status remains subject to clinical monitoring.

Refereeing review and disciplinary dispute

Mourinho addressed the officiating in his post-match press conference, presenting two printed sheets showing images of unpunished fouls on Valverde and Jude Bellingham.

They are two clear red cards.

On Tuesday, the Technical Committee of Referees reviewed the officiating and acknowledged a clear refereeing error regarding Lee's tackle. The refereeing body concluded that the South Korean international should have been sent off for the challenge due to the excessive force and elevated risk of injury. In contrast, the committee upheld the on-field review that resulted in a yellow card for Cuti Romero following a stamp on Bellingham's leg, as well as the penalty and red card issued to Real Madrid central defender Dean Huijsen.

Kang-In Lee throws himself to stop an advance by Federico Valverde. He impacts with the studs on the leg, with joint torsion and a high risk of injury. Direct free kick and red card. Clear and manifest error by the referee. The VAR should have intervened.

International fixtures and Uruguay replacement

The injury rules Valverde out of Uruguay's upcoming series of friendly matches scheduled across Asia between 24 September and 6 October. The fixtures represent Uruguay's first matches since the 2026 World Cup, where the national team was eliminated in the group stage following draws against Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde and a defeat to Spain. Interim head coach Diego Forlán, who assumed charge of the senior squad and under-20 team on 6 August following Marcelo Bielsa's departure, called up Palmeiras midfielder Emiliano Martínez as Valverde's replacement. The Uruguayan Football Association confirmed that Martínez will join the squad in Miyagi ahead of the opening match against Japan at the Q&A Stadium on 24 September. Uruguay will then travel to play South Korea at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on 28 September, before concluding the window against India at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on 6 October.

Recovery timetable and club fixtures

Prognoses for Valverde's return vary between media estimates and general medical benchmarks for grade-three ligament damage. Spanish press reports estimate that the Real Madrid captain will miss two to three weeks of action. In contrast, standard medical recovery for complete ankle ligament tears spans six to twelve weeks, requiring protective braces and offloading periods, and can reach two to three months. The layoff rules Valverde out of Real Madrid's LaLiga match against Villarreal on 10 October at the Santiago Bernabéu.