With a new look: Real Madrid star returns to the scene of the nightmare's end
Rayo Vallecano, witness to the player's transformation
Federico Valverde returns to face Rayo Vallecano, the side against whom he played his last match at right-back for Real Madrid, in a chapter that marked the end of a crisis the team experienced during the Xabi Alonso era.
Saturday's clash carries special memories for the Uruguayan. He went from being dissatisfied with his position to complete stability in his natural midfield role, and now stands as one of the most important elements in José Mourinho's plans, according to a report published by the newspaper "Marca".
The start of the crisis
It all began with the injuries that struck Real Madrid. Alonso found himself forced to rely on Valverde at right-back, with Dani Carvajal and Trent Alexander-Arnold both absent.
Reluctantly, the Uruguayan accepted the task at first. Then his patience ran out. The crisis erupted before the clash against Kairat Almaty in the Champions League, when he spoke frankly about his struggles playing in the back line.
Valverde said in a press conference: "I wasn't born to play as a full-back, and I didn't grow up learning to play in this position. Because of an emergency, I found myself playing there."
Alonso reacted swiftly. Valverde sat on the bench for the following match, while Asensio took over at full-back.
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The night in Kazakhstan
Everything became a topic of discussion inside Real Madrid, and the spotlight fell on Valverde during the warm-up before the match in Kazakhstan.
Cold-faced, hands behind his back, the Uruguayan did not even feature as a substitute. It was the only Champions League match all season in which he did not appear.
That stood as an exception in a season during which Valverde took part in every other match, including the clash in which he scored a hat-trick against Manchester City.
The end of the task
Álvaro Arbeloa's arrival in the manager's seat in January changed things. The reliance on Valverde at full-back began to recede gradually, until he played his last match in that position against Rayo.
His total appearances as a right-back reached 16, before this chapter of his career closed. The effects of the experience took time to disappear.
Loyalty to the Real Madrid shirt had driven Valverde to carry out the role, but he never hid the place where he feels like a footballer in the true sense.
Mourinho brings him back
Mourinho changed the picture completely.
Back in his natural midfield position, Valverde became one of the most important pillars for the Portuguese coach, starting every match this season so far.
Returning him to his preferred environment was not enough for Mourinho. He gave the player clear trust as one of the mainstays of his project, so that Valverde now appears in a completely different image from the one he cut when forced to play as a full-back.
His impact stretched to the attacking end, too. Valverde scored against Inter, confirming his value within Real Madrid's new system.
The reconciliation with Tchouaméni
In the latest press conference, Mourinho was keen to put an end to any doubts about the relationship between Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni, after the altercation that occurred between the players last season.
The Portuguese coach said: "They are the ones who did everything, and I did nothing. If I had arrived in the dressing room without knowing anything, I would have thought they were close friends."
He added: "When I arrived, and Tchouaméni came back from the World Cup, I was paying attention to find out whether I needed to intervene and play the role of a minister of peace, but I did nothing. All the credit goes to the players."
