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SportsFederico Valverde named Real Madrid captain on 28th birthday, praises Mourinho
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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.
Source report
On his 28th birthday, Federico Valverde completed his first training session under Real Madrid's new coaching staff, led by José Mourinho. The Uruguayan international, who faced questions about his leadership ability last season following controversial episodes with Tchouaméni and Marcelo Bielsa during the 2026 World Cup, has earned the trust of the Portuguese coach, who handed him the captain's armband for the Merengues.
Valverde's Reaction
Speaking to the club's official channels, Valverde praised Mourinho and expressed his "great emotion" and "pride" at wearing the captain's armband.
"[I want to] learn from him [José Mourinho], try to listen to every piece of advice he gives me, make the most of every second and minute of training I share with him and his coaching staff," the midfielder said.
Valverde acknowledged that the Portuguese coach "is a special person," from whom he can take "many things and learn." He also expressed his hope that the 2026/27 season will be "a beautiful season" for Real Madrid.
Remembering Former Captains
Regarding the captain's armband, Valverde made a point of remembering his predecessors at the club, stating that he learned "immensely" from all of them.
"Great emotion, great pride," he began. "Whenever someone comes up to me on the street or in my circle, at home, and tells me that [I have a captain's profile], it fills me with pride, with emotion. You think about everything you've been through, beautiful things, bad things, and the moment has come to be captain, the main one."
He continued: "Dani [Carvajal], Sergio [Ramos], Toni [Kroos], Luka [Modric], Lucas Vázquez... I learned immensely from all the teammates who were captains here. They always gave me incredible help and I will use all that knowledge to grow with the coaching staff. I also grew a lot with those colleagues with whom I shared many years in the locker room."
Looking Ahead
Valverde concluded: "I will never tire of mentioning them. They are players who helped me a lot to grow as a person, as a captain, and as a player. This will be my first year as the main captain and I will try to enjoy it to the fullest and give my best, not only on the field, but also off it, so that all my teammates feel comfortable."
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Valverde Named Real Madrid Captain, Praises Mourinho on 28th Birthday