Valverde diagnosed with grade-3 ankle sprain and ruled out

Real Madrid has issued an update on Fede Valverde after he was injured in last Sunday’s derby. In the latest medical statement, the club says that after medical tests carried out today by Real Madrid’s services, Valverde has been diagnosed with a grade-3 sprain in the left ankle, with his condition pending further evolution.

According to the club, the midfielder is initially expected to be out for around two weeks, which means he will not travel with Uruguay for this international break. The key question now is whether he can make the next big fixture: the Real Madrid vs Villarreal match on October 10 at the Bernabéu.

From the incident to the diagnosis

The injury happened in the first half when Valverde’s left ankle bent after a challenge from Kang-In Lee. Real Madrid asked for a red card for the action, but the referee did not show one and the VAR did not overturn the call. Valverde finished the match, although the club later reported the ankle injury.

Real Madrid also explains that until today, Tuesday, the tests couldn’t be carried out because the ankle was too swollen. Once the inflammation went down, a scan (resonance imaging) confirmed the sprain now specified as grade 3.

With the latest report in hand, the timeline will depend on how Valverde’s ankle responds during treatment, and whether he can return in time for October 10.