Madrid (AFP)

Who needs Paul Pogba? With his freshness, Fede Valverde made forget the French environment, target of Real Madrid in the transfer window, to become an undeniable Galactic even praised by Diego Simeone, Atlético coach that Real meets Saturday for the Madrid derby in La Liga.

An MVP already indestructible: at only 21, the Uruguayan is adored by his coach, his teammates ... and even the technician of Atlético: "It was Valverde who won the final" of the Supercup on January 12 last against the "Colchoneros" (0-0, 4-1 tab) in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), indeed launched Simeone.

Recruited for six million euros in 2016, Valverde (24 games, 2 goals, 3 assists in all competitions this season) cost around 200 million euros less than what the Merengues should have spent to attract the international French Paul Pogba, one of the priorities of coach Zinédine Zidane last summer with Belgian striker Eden Hazard.

- "He is incredible" -

While it seemed promised to unimportant King Cup matches at the start of the season, or a few appearances in the group stage of the Champions League or against weak teams in the Spanish championship, Valverde quickly became an essential in the galactic collective.

Tireless box-to-box midfielder, he has become (with the rather defensive Brazilian Casemiro) the perfect alternative to the German 2014 world champion Toni Kroos, and to the Croatian Ballon d'Or 2018 Luka Modric, pair who has led Real Madrid's game for over six years.

Trained at the Urugayan club of Peñarol, which he joined at the age of 13, Fede Valverde, a solid trunk placed on two long and slender legs, earned his nickname, "El Pajarito" ("the little bird", in Spanish) . He was recruited in 2016 by Real, who then lent him a season at Deportivo La Coruña in 2017-2018, before joining the first team in the summer of 2018.

"It's incredible to play for such a big club, with such a great history ... Playing at Santiago-Bernabeu, I dreamed of it, and now I'm going to do everything to make it last as long as possible", confided it late last year.

"He's incredible," Kroos praised in November. "It is not easy to come here, and playing like he does at his age means that he has great qualities. I am sure he will have a bright future here in the next few years."

A bright future, and an already sparkling present. With Valverde, Real has qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League where he will face Manchester City at the end of February, took a point in the clasico go to Camp Nou (0-0) in December, and reigns at the top La Liga, alone, without tasting defeat since October 19 (in Mallorca, 1-0).

- "Valverde won the final" -

And with the Spanish Super Cup, Zinédine Zidane's men pocketed their first trophy of the year thanks to an excellent Valverde, named best player of the match despite his red card collected in the 115th for a gross foul on Alvaro Morata, for avoid a goal and send both teams on penalties.

"The prize for best player in the tournament also applies to this action. It was Valverde who won the final," summed up Atlético coach Diego Simeone after the match.

"It was the most important action of the match. If the game continued, maybe it was a goal for us. I told him not to worry, that he had done what he had to do, "said Simeone, who sportingly tapped young Valverde on the shoulder when he was deported to Jeddah.

Suspended for a match for his gesture, the Urugayen came back haloed with a reputation as an unstoppable fighter, with a sense of sacrifice much appreciated by Madrid supporters.

And this dantesque final has only established its place in the hearts of the fans and in Zidane's game plan.

© 2020 AFP