Premier League latest: New conferences as relegation threatened managers speak

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Federico Valverde began his professional career in 2015 at Penerol where he won the Uruguayan Primera Division in his first season. He joined Real Madrid in 2016, featuring for the club’s reserve side, before making his first-team debut the year after.

The midfielder then made his La Liga debut during a season long loan spell for Deportivo de La Coruna in 2017, playing 26 minutes as a substitute versus Real Sociedad at 19-years-old.

Valverde also made his international debut for Uruguay that year, and has since represented his country at three Copa America tournaments.

Returning to Madrid in 2018, he established himself as a key part of the first team. Since then he has made more than 300 appearances for the club and helped the club win three La Liga titles, two FIFA Club World Cup trophies, two Uefa Champions League titles, two UEFA Super Cup victories and the Copa del Rey.

In the the 2022-23 season he scored 12 goals in all competitions, fulfilling Carlo Ancelotti’s prediction that he would score more than 10 goals that season.

With the departure of Luka Modric and Lucas Vazquez in the 2025-26 season, Valverde was promoted as vice-captain of the team.

Last Friday, in Real’s La Liga fixture at Celta Vigo, with the game at 1-1, he claimed a 94th-minute winner to keep their title hopes alive.

Before Man City’s visit the 27-year-old had not found the net in his previous 26 Champions League games and never scored more than one in a game in the competition.

In the 39 games he’s played this season, he’s started 37, with his versatility impressing as he covers defensive and midfield positions.