According to AS, following Uruguay's exit from the World Cup, Valverde's situation at both club and international level is under scrutiny.
Uruguay's World Cup failure is undeniable. Their inability to advance from a group containing Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia speaks volumes about their poor performance. While this was a collective failure, certain individuals came under particular criticism, including Valverde. The World Cup has made his situation especially difficult.
Before the decisive match against Spain, Valverde was one of several players who clashed with Bielsa. He was substituted with over half an hour remaining. Bielsa explained the decision by saying, "I wanted to add more attacking power." Following Uruguay's elimination, frustrated fans directed particular ire at Valverde: "Valverde, go back to Real Madrid and don't come back, because you did nothing here, neither in the qualifiers nor in the World Cup."
For Valverde, this is far from an isolated incident. Rather, it represents the latest setback in a season he would rather forget. While his statistics are respectable—9 goals and 13 assists for Real Madrid—he managed just 1 goal throughout Uruguay's World Cup qualifiers. His on-field display was uninspiring, but what truly damaged his reputation this season were off-field issues, particularly his relationship with the coach.
His relationship with Bielsa ended on poor terms. At Real Madrid, he was also seen as one of those opposed to Xabi Alonso. He publicly refused to play as a right-back, though he later denied making such a statement; during a training session in Almaty, Kazakhstan, he also had a controversial warm-up that was interpreted as a challenge to Xabi Alonso.
Following Xabi Alonso's departure, Valverde bore much of the crowd's frustration. After working with Arbeloa, he adapted better and raised his level, but his reputation had already suffered significantly. The subsequent incident with Tchouaméni further damaged his standing: he had an argument with the French midfielder over two consecutive days, and on the second occasion, he fell after being struck, sustaining a cut to his forehead, losing consciousness, and requiring hospitalization.
Both players were fined €500,000 and subsequently returned to regular training and match duties. However, the tension between them remains.
Mourinho must navigate all of this. Real Madrid rates Valverde highly, while regarding Tchouaméni, the club has suggested they would consider his departure if appropriate offers arrive. Valverde is also set to become the first-choice captain following Carvajal's departure.
Mourinho plans to hand Valverde a prominent role at Real Madrid, with the team prioritizing counter-attacks and the exploitation of attacking space. The one advantage of Uruguay's early exit is that Mourinho and Valverde can work together from the very start of Real Madrid's pre-season preparation.
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