Real Madrid captain Fede Valverde denied reports that his anger at being substituted in the match against Real Sociedad was due to coach Álvaro Arbeloa, revealing the truth by stating that he had been under incredible pressure recently.
Valverde scored a brilliant goal for Real Madrid in the first half with a powerful shot, before Arbeloa decided to substitute him in the 73rd minute of the match, which Real Madrid won 4-1, temporarily taking the lead in La Liga.
As he left the pitch, Valverde slammed his fist on a small refrigerator on the bench, clearly displaying his frustration. This led many to interpret it as a reaction to Arbeloa’s decision to substitute him.
Valverde posted a denial of this narrative on his Instagram account, revealing that his anger stemmed from his regret at missing a clear scoring opportunity just seconds before being taken off, and that Arbeloa had nothing to do with it.
Meanwhile, the player acknowledged the pressure he faced in a press conference, saying, “It’s been a tough year for me as captain. I felt responsible when things weren’t going well.”
He added, “For weeks, we endured a lot of nonsense, and I think that helped us mature. We faced some difficult moments, but in the end, we managed to turn things around.”
Valverde was among those who led the revolt against coach Xabi Alonso, which resulted in his dismissal last January. Once Arbeloa was appointed, he returned to form and performed well, especially since the new coach reinstated him to his preferred position in midfield.
