Fede Valverde, who injured his left ankle during Sunday’s derby against Atlético Madrid, now knows the exact nature of his injury. The Real Madrid midfielder has suffered a grade 3 ankle sprain and is expected to be sidelined for around two weeks.
The bad news has been confirmed for Real Madrid. After suffering defeat against Atlético Madrid in the derby, Los Blancos will also have to cope without Fede Valverde for the next few days. The Uruguay international picked up the injury in the first half following a very strong challenge from Kang-In Lee.
During the incident, Valverde’s left ankle twisted badly upon contact. The Real Madrid midfielder immediately appeared to be in considerable pain, while the club demanded punishment for the Atlético player. Madrid believed the challenge could have warranted a red card, or at the very least a VAR review. However, the referee decided not to send the Atlético player off.
Despite the pain, Valverde managed to continue playing until the final whistle. His decision to remain on the pitch once again highlighted his determination, but concerns over his physical condition quickly increased after the game.
Following the match, his left ankle was significantly swollen. The inflammation was so severe that Real Madrid’s medical staff were unable to immediately carry out all the necessary tests to establish an accurate diagnosis.
Two weeks out for Valverde
The midfielder finally underwent an MRI scan on Tuesday after the swelling had decreased. The examinations confirmed the club’s fears: Valverde has suffered a grade 3 sprain to his left ankle.
Real Madrid officially announced the diagnosis in a medical statement: “Following tests carried out today on our player Fede Valverde by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with a grade 3 sprain of the left ankle. His recovery will be monitored.”
Although Real Madrid traditionally does not provide a precise recovery timetable in its medical statements, the Uruguayan midfielder is expected to be unavailable for approximately two weeks. His condition will be assessed daily by the club’s medical staff.
The injury also means that Valverde will not join the Uruguay national team during the international break. Instead, he will remain in Madrid to undergo treatment and follow a recovery programme, with the aim of returning to action as quickly as possible.
🚨 Real Madrid reported today that Fede Valverde got a grade 3 ankle sprain.
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) September 22, 2026
The usual healing time for this injury is around 2/3 months, as per previous examples – like Eden Hazard at Real Madrid.
But, multiple sources around the club are now reporting that the club is… pic.twitter.com/soQYG0v9gd
The international break could nevertheless work in Real Madrid’s favour. If his recovery progresses as expected, Valverde may miss only a limited number of matches for the Spanish giants.
Real Madrid’s next match is scheduled for October 10 against Villarreal at the Santiago Bernabéu. At this stage, Valverde’s involvement in that game remains uncertain and will depend entirely on how his ankle responds to treatment over the next two weeks.
José Mourinho and his coaching staff will be hoping to have one of the most important players in the squad back as soon as possible, especially with a demanding run of fixtures awaiting Real Madrid immediately after the international break.
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