Federico Valverde, Real Madrid player
Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images
Atletico Madrid have taken another swipe at Real Madrid, this time questioning Federico Valverde’s remarkably quick return from an ankle injury that initially threatened to keep him out for weeks.
The Uruguayan midfielder was injured during the Madrid derby at the Metropolitano following a challenge from Lee Kang-in.
Neither the match referee nor the VAR team deemed the tackle worthy of a red card, but the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) subsequently acknowledged that the South Korean should have been sent off.
The incident became a talking point again after Valverde returned to training far sooner than the recovery period normally associated with the injury described by Real Madrid.
What’s the story?
Real Madrid’s medical report diagnosed Valverde with a grade three ankle sprain, forcing him to withdraw from Uruguay’s squad for the international break.
Queremos felicitar al @RealMadrid por seguir haciendo historia al demostrar que el 100% de la comunidad médica mundial estaba equivocada. #RecuperaciónMilagrosa #ParteMédico #EsguinceGrado3 #HistoriaQueTúHiciste
— Atlético de Madrid (@Atleti) October 9, 2026
Such an injury can typically require six to 12 weeks of recovery. However, Valverde was back training with his teammates at Valdebebas just 18 days after suffering the injury, with his return coinciding with the end of the international break.
Jose Mourinho initially described the midfielder as a doubt for Real Madrid’s upcoming clash against Villarreal, although Valverde was subsequently included in the squad, adding another twist to the story.
Atletico’s sarcastic tweet takes aim at Real Madrid
Atletico wasted little time reacting to the development, using their official X account to question the medical assessment issued by their city rivals.
The club delivered a pointed message, suggesting that Valverde’s recovery had contradicted the expectations of medical professionals worldwide.
“We’d like to congratulate Real Madrid on continuing to make history by proving that 100 per cent of the global medical community was wrong.”
Atletico then reinforced the sarcastic tone with a series of hashtags aimed directly at Madrid’s original diagnosis.
Federico Valverde of Real Madrid
Valverde was expected to miss the Villarreal clash. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
“#MiraculousRecovery #MedicalReport #Grade3Sprain #TheStoryYouMade”.
The post turned Valverde’s return into another flashpoint between the two Madrid clubs, with Atletico openly casting doubt on the severity of the injury described by their rivals.
Another chapter to derby rivalry
The exchange comes after an already contentious derby, with the challenge on Valverde and the subsequent refereeing admission keeping the match in the headlines.
Atletico’s post shifts the argument away from the tackle itself and towards the credibility of Real Madrid’s medical report.
However, the midfielder’s early return alone does not establish that the original diagnosis was incorrect.
With Valverde back in contention for Mourinho’s side, attention will now turn to whether he features against Villarreal and how Madrid manage his fitness after the rapid recovery.
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