Marca: Right wing could be Valverde's best position at Real Madrid, offering both attack and defense

According to Marca, Valverde has proven for years that he can play almost any position. The problem is, he isn't equally good in all of them. Real Madrid is once again discussing how best to utilize one of its most decisive players. His recent performance against Villarreal once again showed that the right wing might be the ideal area to leverage his strengths.

After two brilliant plays, Bellingham bluntly told him: "Mate, you are absolutely brilliant. Brilliant in every aspect. You are the best."

The Englishman's praise came at a special moment. The long-standing question about the Uruguayan resurfaced: what if his best version is on the right wing? Last season, Valverde tried to put an end to this debate. "I'm not naturally a winger, nor did I learn to play this position from a young age. I'm not comfortable in this position because there are many things and advantages I don't possess, such as covering my back when defending." The No. 8 player spoke firmly at a press conference in Almaty in September 2025, and this statement has followed him ever since.

A Different Winger

The Uruguayan has never hidden his preferences. It's another matter what happens when he plays on the right wing and the game allows him to unleash his full potential. In those moments, Valverde becomes a player who can provide depth, intensity, runs into the box, and defensive work, all without needing complete control of the ball. He can change the pace of a game with a sprint, a late run, or a pass that finds space most people don't see.

Valverde is not a traditional winger. He doesn't rely on dribbling, nor does he always need to receive the ball at his feet to make a difference. Give him enough space to sprint, attack open spaces, and use his physical ability to make late runs, and his threat becomes apparent. He has speed, covers a lot of ground, has a powerful shot from distance, and an astonishing ability to make continuous runs. On the right wing, he can combine all these strengths... and also suddenly cut inside to create danger. It was precisely here that he hurt Villarreal with two brilliant plays at the Bernabéu. One ultimately led to Diomandé's goal, and the other earned him Bellingham's praise because his pass set up Mbappé for a one-on-one chance.

This is also one of the reasons why he brings so much value to Real Madrid when he plays on the wing. Fede provides depth and balance. He can join the attack, get into shooting positions, and then track back, becoming a midfielder when the team loses possession. This kind of coverage complements more offensive teammates and reduces the workload on the wings.

Ancelotti was one of the first to frequently use this approach. The Italian coach played the Uruguayan close to the touchline and once believed he could score 10 goals per season from that position. Although it seemed like a bold idea at the time, time eventually proved him right. Valverde's ability to shoot from distance and make late runs into the box keeps him constantly threatening.

Ancelotti's Secret Formula

That Real Madrid found a successful formula. Valverde provided coverage and balance, while other players could focus more on creative tasks. The Uruguayan didn't need to be the protagonist of every attack to be decisive. It was enough for him to appear at the right time, attack open spaces, or break defenses using the space created by teammates.

Therefore, the right wing remains a viable option to consider. Valverde created 3 chances, completed 12 passes in the attacking third, recovered 4 balls, made 2 interceptions, and won 4 out of 5 duels. He was not dribbled past even once. These statistics reflect his impact on both offense and defense, and show that he once again proved he is more than just a winger in certain situations.

However, this debate is awkward for several reasons. First, Valverde himself has never hidden his dislike for playing right-back, preferring a midfield role. Second, squad planning: Real Madrid already has two right-backs, one who joined this summer and another signed last year, so playing the Uruguayan in that position would question the team's transfer management. Third, the cost of moving Valverde back to the center or midfield: to do so, Mourinho would have to sacrifice an important attacking player to make space for him.

Diomandé or Güler are potential options that could be squeezed out if Valverde moves up, changing the tactical puzzle. Each option means giving up something, which explains why, despite the Uruguayan's preferences, his positional issue remains difficult for Real Madrid to fully resolve.

But this is not a problem for Mourinho, who believes Federico only plays right-back in emergencies. "I think the coach did very well in Real Madrid's match against Villarreal. I felt it was necessary to change the type of right-back, and I didn't want to waste a substitution replacing De Vrij with Trent, so I thought Fede could change the game.

As a coach, I often make mistakes, but this time I got it right. If you have more than one Fede, you'd play him at full-back, in midfield... but we only have one Fede, so putting him at right-back is a very special situation," he said.

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