As the rotation wheel spins in Carlo Ancelotti’s squad, three players remain firmly entrenched in the starting eleven: Kylian Mbappé, Thibaut Courtois, and Federico Valverde. While the French star has missed some playing time due to substitutions, both the Belgian goalkeeper and the Uruguayan midfielder have clocked in the full 720 minutes available so far this season. 

This makes Valverde the only outfield player to have participated in all eight official matches for Real Madrid. A relentless hawk on the field, Valverde is proving to be crucial for the team.

Valverde has solidified his position as an essential asset for Ancelotti. Last season, he ended up being the player with the most minutes on the team, amassing a total of 4,279 minutes. He only took a break for one match against Granada, which came after the league title had already been secured. 

This tireless player, including the 13 games he played with Uruguay, has logged a staggering 5,540 minutes—equivalent to over 60 full matches. This season, he continues to build on that impressive tally.

In his quest for a new midfield formula, Ancelotti deployed Valverde as a pivot during the recent match against Espanyol. This role is not unfamiliar to the Uruguayan, as he had played it under Zinedine Zidane in the past. 

However, with Ancelotti, Valverde had mainly operated as a midfielder or even as a winger—positions he was accustomed to, having started in the final of the 14th Champions League in Paris. 

Ancelotti praised Valverde’s versatility, stating, “He is one of those players who can perform at a high level in various positions. He can play as a pivot, in a double pivot, as a wing-back, as a winger, or as a central midfielder. I believe he is a team player, and his performance is essential for the squad. He has the quality to handle any situation I put him in.”

This year, Ancelotti has not set a goal-scoring challenge for Valverde, unlike the previous season. Instead, he has emphasized leadership. “He’s not just a fantastic player; he is also a leader in the dressing room, as he should be. In this regard, Valverde is an example,” Ancelotti remarked a few weeks ago. 

While he has not set a specific goal target like the ten goals he requested two seasons ago (which Valverde surpassed), Ancelotti still encourages him to pursue scoring opportunities, as seen in his free-kick against Valladolid.

Despite his goal-scoring capabilities—having netted two goals this season, against Atalanta and Valladolid—Valverde maintains a team-oriented mindset. “It’s about making sure those up front enjoy themselves, play well, and we’ll be back here running for them,” he said after the UEFA Super Cup, where he scored Madrid’s first goal of the season. This encapsulates the spirit of a hawk soaring without breaks, focused on both individual excellence and collective success.