Real Madrid have confirmed Federico Valverde suffered severe trauma to his left ankle in the derby defeat to Atletico Madrid, while reports suggest he could be out for up to three weeks.

Real Madrid receive Valverde injury blow after brutal derby challenge

Real Madrid have received worrying news over Federico Valverde after the midfielder suffered a serious ankle problem during the Madrid derby.

Valverde was hurt during Real Madrid’s 2-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano on September 20.

The Uruguay international was caught by a strong challenge from Kang-In Lee shortly before half-time.

Despite completing the match, Valverde was later diagnosed with severe trauma to his left ankle.

Real Madrid confirm Valverde injury

Real Madrid released an official medical statement after carrying out tests on their captain.

The club confirmed:

“Fede Valverde has been diagnosed with severe trauma to his left ankle.”

Madrid also said the midfielder would undergo further examinations to understand the full extent of the problem.

The club has not yet officially announced how long Valverde will be unavailable.

Valverde hurt after controversial challenge

The injury happened during a major moment of controversy in the first half of the derby.

Kang-In Lee challenged Valverde and caught the Real Madrid midfielder on his left ankle with his studs.

The incident happened only minutes before half-time.

However, Atletico’s player was not shown a yellow or red card.

VAR also did not send the referee to the monitor to review the challenge.

Real Madrid angry with referee decision

Real Madrid were furious with several refereeing decisions during the derby.

The club later highlighted the challenge on Valverde in its official match report.

Madrid argued that Kang-In Lee should have been sent off for the tackle.

The club described the incident as one of the major refereeing mistakes that affected the match.

The decision became even more controversial after Valverde’s injury was confirmed.

Valverde still finished the match

One of the most surprising parts of the situation is that Valverde continued playing.

Despite suffering the ankle problem before half-time, the midfielder remained on the pitch until the final whistle.

He continued trying to help Real Madrid fight their way back into the game.

Only after the match did medical tests reveal the full impact of the challenge.

That has increased concern about his condition.

Valverde could reportedly miss two to three weeks

Real Madrid have not given an official recovery period, but early reports have provided a more positive picture.

According to The Athletic, Valverde is expected to be unavailable for around two to three weeks.

If that timeline is correct, the injury may not keep him away from Real Madrid for many matches.

The international break comes at a useful time for the Spanish giants.

Valverde could complete much of his recovery while club football is paused.

Uruguay call-up now in major doubt

The injury is expected to affect Valverde’s international plans.

The Real Madrid captain was due to join Uruguay during the upcoming international break.

However, reports suggest he is now likely to remain in Madrid and focus on his recovery.

That means Uruguay could be without one of their most important players for their next matches.

Real Madrid will hope the extra recovery time helps Valverde return without taking unnecessary risks.

When could Valverde return?

If Valverde needs only two to three weeks, there is a chance he could be ready when Real Madrid return to club action.

Madrid are scheduled to face Villarreal on October 10.

That match is currently seen as a possible return date if his recovery goes well.

If he needs additional time, the Champions League meeting with Roma on October 14 could become another possible target.

However, those dates remain estimates rather than official return dates.

Madrid will not want to take risks

Valverde is one of the most important players in the Real Madrid squad.

His energy, defensive work and ability to play in several positions make him extremely valuable.

He is also one of the leaders inside the dressing room.

For that reason, Madrid are unlikely to rush him back before his ankle is fully ready.

Further tests and his response to treatment will decide when he can return.

Another problem after painful derby defeat

The injury makes a difficult derby even worse for Real Madrid.

Atletico won the match 2-1 after a dramatic second half.

Real Madrid were also unhappy with several refereeing decisions during the game.

Valverde’s injury has now added another major talking point.

Madrid lost the derby and also saw one of their most important players leave the match with an injury that could keep him out for several weeks.

Valverde remains a key player for Madrid

Valverde has become one of the most reliable players at the Bernabeu.

The Uruguay star can play in central midfield, on the right side and in deeper positions when needed.

His physical power also allows him to cover huge areas of the pitch.

Losing him for any period would reduce Real Madrid’s options in midfield.

That is why his recovery will now be closely followed during the international break.

Real Madrid waiting for more answers

For now, there are two different levels of information surrounding the injury.

What is official is that Valverde has suffered severe trauma to his left ankle.

Real Madrid have confirmed that diagnosis.

What has not yet been officially confirmed is exactly how many matches he will miss.

Reports currently suggest a recovery period of around two to three weeks.

If that prediction proves correct, the international break could arrive at the perfect time for Madrid.

A nervous wait for Valverde and Real Madrid

The next few days will provide a clearer picture of Valverde’s recovery.

Madrid will continue to monitor his ankle and decide when he can return to training.

For now, the situation is clear.

Valverde suffered a painful challenge.

The referee did not punish it with a card.

And Real Madrid later confirmed a significant ankle injury.

The encouraging news is that early reports do not suggest a long-term absence.

Real Madrid will now hope their captain can use the international break to recover and return as soon as possible.