Federico Valverde set to miss Uruguay matches with serious ankle injury

Federico Valverde is expected to miss Uruguay’s forthcoming international fixtures after Real Madrid confirmed the midfielder has sustained a serious injury to his left ankle.

Valverde was hurt during Real Madrid’s 2-1 defeat by Atletico Madrid on Saturday after a heavy challenge from Lee Kang-in. Although he remained on the pitch and completed the match, subsequent medical examinations showed that the ankle had suffered significant damage.

Real Madrid said Valverde had sustained a severe ankle sprain and would undergo further tests to establish the full extent of the injury and how long he is likely to be unavailable.

The injury is understood to be a grade-three sprain, the most serious type of ligament injury. Reports in the Spanish media indicate that Valverde could be sidelined for between two and three weeks.

As a result, the 28-year-old is set to miss Uruguay’s next matches. His absence could also affect Real Madrid’s midfield options once the international break has finished, with Valverde regarded as one of the club’s key players in that area.

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho expressed his dissatisfaction with the challenge by Kang-in. He also questioned why the incident did not lead to either a penalty or disciplinary action.

The club will now monitor Valverde’s recovery and hope he returns sooner rather than later. Real Madrid’s home fixture against Villarreal on October 10 has been identified as a possible date for his comeback, although further medical assessment will be needed before his rehabilitation timetable is confirmed.