Valverde Named Real Madrid Captain, Praises Mourinho on 28th Birthday
Federico Valverde, on his 28th birthday, completed his first training session under Real Madrid's new coaching staff led by José Mourinho. The Uruguayan international, whose leadership was questioned after incidents with Tchouaméni and Marcelo Bielsa during the 2026 World Cup, has been given the captain's armband by Mourinho. In statements to club channels, Valverde expressed 'great emotion' and 'pride' at the honor. He praised Mourinho as a 'special person' and vowed to learn from him, making the most of every training moment. Valverde also thanked former captains Dani Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, and Lucas Vázquez for their guidance. He expressed hope that the 2026/27 season will be 'beautiful' for Real Madrid and pledged to give his best both on and off the field to ensure teammates feel comfortable.
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