Grade-three ankle sprain rules Valverde out of Uruguay's international window

Real Madrid have confirmed that Fede Valverde sustained a grade-three sprain in his left ankle during Sunday’s Madrid derby against Atlético de Madrid, ruling the Uruguayan midfielder out of his country’s upcoming international fixtures. The club’s medical department released a statement classifying the injury after fresh tests on Tuesday, with his recovery listed as pending evolution rather than tied to a fixed return date.

The injury was caused by a tackle from Atlético’s Kang In Lee during the derby. Real Madrid had flagged serious concern in the immediate aftermath, describing the damage as severe trauma before Tuesday’s tests confirmed the grade-three diagnosis — the most serious classification of a ligament sprain.

Valverde will remain at the club’s Valdebebas training complex to continue his rehabilitation under the supervision of Real Madrid’s medical staff, rather than travel with Uruguay for the current FIFA international window. His absence is a significant blow for La Celeste, for whom he has been one of the most consistent performers in recent qualifying cycles.

According to reports citing Managing Madrid, Valverde is expected to rejoin full training in approximately two weeks, with the away fixture against Villarreal potentially serving as his first match back once the international break concludes. Real Madrid have stopped short of confirming that timeline officially, and the club’s own communication frames his progress as dependent on how the ankle responds to treatment.

For Carlo Ancelotti’s side, losing Valverde for any portion of a congested fixture schedule represents a meaningful disruption. While a grade-three sprain can carry varying recovery windows depending on the individual, the club has been careful not to commit to a specific date, leaving his return contingent on day-to-day progress at Valdebebas.