Roma’s Champions League meeting with Real Madrid on 14 October may yet be shaped by an injury sustained far from the Olimpico, with Fede Valverde now facing an uncertain recovery after damaging his left ankle in the Madrid derby.
Real confirmed that tests carried out on the Uruguayan midfielder revealed a third-degree sprain to his left ankle. The club did not give a timetable for his return, but the nature of the injury points towards a significant absence and leaves Valverde in doubt for the trip to face Roma.
The setback followed Real’s defeat against Atletico Madrid, a match that had already left a difficult aftermath around the club. Valverde was injured after a heavy challenge from Kang-in Lee, an incident José Mourinho believed deserved a red card. The Real coach then added to the post-match tension with a forceful press conference appearance.
For Roma, the situation will be watched closely as the European fixture approaches. Valverde’s possible absence would remove a major midfield presence from Real’s options, while the Spanish side must first establish whether he can recover in time for a demanding night in the Italian capital.
