Article by GSP – Published on Wednesday, 18 March 2026, 15:27 / Updated on Wednesday, 18 March 2026 15:28
One of his heroes real madrid in the double leg with Manchester City of the Champions League was undoubtedly Federico Valverde. In the first leg, he contributed three goals, helping Arbeloa's team to take a decisive lead, and in the second leg in Manchester, the Uruguayan was integral, helping the team to qualify for the “quarters”. An important name in the world of football, Clarence Seedorf, commented on the performance of the midfielder in the two games.
The former Real Madrid player coached Valverde at Deportivo La Coruna in the spring of 2018. Then, immediately after his arrival at the Bernabeu, the 19-year-old Uruguayan was loaned out to Riazor for a season.
Clarence Seedorf, words of praise for Valverde
Invited to a TV show right from the edge of the pitch at the Etihad Stadium, Clarence Seedorf spoke about the time he coached the Galacticos midfielder.
“When I arrived at Deportivo, Valverde was there. I didn't know who he was, but after 10 minutes of the first practice, I told my assistant to put him in the starting team. I knew I was going to play with him and ten others. Even then you could see the quality he had and how far he could go. He wasn't at the level he is now, but his potential was obvious. I'm very proud of him,” the Dutchman told Amazon Prime Sport after the match in England.
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Seedorf's stay at La Coruna turned into a nightmare, however, as he won just two games out of 16 and was sacked.
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Fede made 25 appearances for Deportivo that season.
Valverde in the jersey of Deportivo La Coruna
In the current season, he has 7 goals and 12 assists in 41 matches in the white shirt, becoming one of the most important players of the “galacticos”.
