Head coach Alvaro Arbeloa hails midfielder as “a benchmark for Madridismo”
Trent Alexander-Arnold has said his Real Madrid teammate Federico Valverde is one of the most underrated players in world football after the midfielder hit a stunning hat trick against Manchester City to leave the Premier League side on the brink of an early exit in the Champions League.
Madrid won 3-0 after the Uruguay midfielder scored three times in 22-minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu for the hat-trick. It leaves them with one foot in the quarter-finals ahead of next week’s return leg in Manchester, even if Vinicius Junior failed to seize the chance to extend the lead further in the second half after his tame penalty was saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Valverde’s treble also made history. The 26-year-old became the first midfielder to score a Champions League hat trick for Madrid, in addition to doubling his overall goal tally in the competition.
“I think he’s the most underrated footballer on the planet and has been for years,” Alexander-Arnold said. “Even when I wasn’t here, I admired his game so much. There’s no flaw in it. There’s nothing he can’t do.
“The energy and what he brings to the team is absolutely immense. He never moans, he pushes himself to the limit, game in game out. It’s an incredible trait to have. Whether people agree or not, he’s definitely in the top tier of midfielders on the planet and has been for years.”
Head coach Alvaro Arbeloa also singled out Valverde for special praise after the performance. Since taking over two months ago, Arbeloa has moved the Uruguayan back into midfield after he had been deployed at right-back under former coach Xabi Alonso.
“It doesn’t matter where you put [Valverde],” Arbeloa said. “For me, he’s the [Madrid legend] Juanito of the 21st century, a benchmark for Madridismo. He’s everything a Madrid player should be. He deserved a night like this. For sure he won’t ever forget it.”
Even Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola acknowledged Valverde’s influence, describing him as “fantastic” and the game’s standout performer.
Arbeloa explained that the tactical plan involved giving Valverde greater freedom to attack City’s defence from a wide starting position while also contributing defensively alongside Alexander-Arnold.
“We wanted Fede to be more aggressive, to attack City’s backline,” Arbeloa said. “He made a huge effort, he helped Trent in defence. He scored three goals. It’s a game to remember. But the most important thing is what he transmits, what he means for his teammates.”
Valverde himself said: “You always dream of nights like this. I really enjoyed myself today. It had been a while since I enjoyed a match like this.”
