Serious ankle sprain for Valverde after Kang-In Lee's tackle in Madrid derby

Federico Valverde suffered a grade 3 ankle sprain on his left ankle, Real Madrid announced in a medical statement released on Tuesday. The injury resulted from Kang-In Lee’s tackle sustained late in the first half during the derby against Atlético de Madrid on Sunday, which Real lost 2-1.

Grade 3 is the maximum severity level for an ankle sprain, generally involving ligament damage. Valverde managed to play until the final whistle despite the impact, before medical examinations revealed the extent of the injury. The club stated that “his recovery will be closely monitored,” without providing an official return date.

According to estimates from newspaper AS, the unavailability would be two to three weeks, which deprives Uruguay of its midfielder for the next international window. However, Valverde could be available for La Liga’s resumption on October 10, when Real hosts Villarreal.

The Uruguayan’s injury comes amid heightened tension surrounding the derby’s refereeing. After the defeat, Real Madrid denounced several unfavorable decisions, notably pointing out the absence of a red card for Kang-In Lee following his tackle on Valverde, as well as for Cristian Romero, who had stepped on Jude Bellingham’s knee. Tuesday’s medical statement adds another piece to the file being built by the Madrid club.