Firestorm in Madrid: Did Fede indeed refuse to play?

For years, Federico Valverde has been considered Real Madrid's soldier. In his eight years at Santiago Bernabeu, he played almost every position on the pitch except goalkeeper. And he always did his job as professionally as he could.

However, the recent rumours are starting to harm his reputation.

Namely, in the press conference ahead of the clash against Kairat - which Madrid won 5-0 - Valverde stated that he "wasn't born to play full-back and didn't grow up learning to play full-back."

King Kylian ruins Kairat's UCL home debut

In the end, the Uruguayan didn't play on the right defensive side. As a matter of fact, he didn't play at all!

And while Xabi Alonso argued that he had made the decision to bench Valverde even before his statement in the press conference, the Spanish media noticed something odd during the clash in Kazakhstan. Fede reportedly isolated himself from the rest of the subs and was slacking off during the warm-up, before sitting on the bench, as if he knew he wouldn't get any playing time.

Xabi Alonso and Federico Valverde (©Image Photo Agency/Getty Images/Gallo Images)

Everything went so far that the player had to speak out on social media and deny the claims that he had refused to play against Kairat.

"I've read several articles that have damaged my character. I know I've had bad matches, I'm aware of that. I'm not hiding anything, and I'm open about it. I'm truly sad. You can say many things about me, but under no circumstances can you say that I refuse to play. I've given everything and more for this club. I've played through fractures and injuries, and I've never complained or asked for a break."

"I have a good relationship with the coach, which makes me feel confident in telling him what position I like most on the field, but I always, always let him know that I'm available to perform anywhere, on any trip, and in every game."

"I left my soul in this club and I will continue to do so, even if sometimes it's not enough or I'm not playing as I would like, I swear on my pride that I will never give up and I will fight until the end playing wherever I am," Valverde wrote via Marca.

Still, the questions that have arisen are numerous: Is this the beginning of Fede's end in Madrid? Is his relationship with Alonso damaged, and was it ever good in the first place? Is this just minor trouble in paradise or an indicator of a crisis at Santiago Bernabeu?

We may get some answers very soon.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 2

Tuesday

Atalanta - Club Brugge 2-1 (0-1)

/Samardzic 73 pen, Pasalic 87 - Tzolis 38/

Kairat - Real Madrid 0-5 (0-1)

/Mbappe 25 pen, 52, 74, Camavinga 83, Diaz 90+3/

Atletico Madrid - Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 (3-0)

/Raspadori 4, Le Normand 33, Griezmann 45+1, 68, Alvarez 82 pen - Burkardt 57/

Bodo/Glimt - Tottenham 2-2 (0-0)

/Hauge 53, 66 - Van de Ven 69, Richarlison 89/

Chelsea - Benfica 1-0 (1-0)

/Rios 18 og/

Galatasaray - Liverpool 1-0 (1-0)

/Osimhen 16 pen/

Inter - Slavia Prague 3-0 (2-0)

/Lautaro 30, 65, Dumfries 34/

Olympique Marseille - Ajax 4-0 (3-0)

/Paixao 6, 13, Greenwood 26, Aubameyang 53/

Pafos - Bayern 1-5 (1-4)

/Orsic 45 - Kane 15, 35, Guerreiro 21, Jackson 31, Olise 69/

Wednesday

Qarabag - Copenhagen IN PROGRESS

St. Gilloise - Newcastle IN PROGRESS

22.00: (1.20) Arsenal (6.75) Olympiakos (14.0)

22.00: (1.95) Barcelona (3.70) PSG (3.70)

22.00: (1.83) Dortmund (3.50) Ath.Bilbao (4.50)

22.00: (1.87) Leverkusen (3.60) PSV (4.20)

22.00: (6.75) Monaco (4.40) Man.City (1.48)

22.00: (1.90) Napoli (3.50) Sporting (4.10)

22.00: (2.35) Villareal (3.35) Juventus (3.05)

***odds are subject to change***