Overview

• Federico Valverde was fit but remained an unused substitute during Real Madrid’s 5-0 victory at Kairat Almaty.
• Xabi Alonso said the decision was pre-planned to manage Valverde’s workload and noted he would have played if the game had required it.
• Reports described Valverde not joining the pre-match warm-up and later standing on the touchline with his hands behind his back before sitting down.
• A video of the episode circulated widely on social media, with observers noting Jude Bellingham briefly checked in with Valverde on the sideline.
• The scrutiny follows Valverde’s remarks that right-back is not his preferred role during a spell of injuries to Dani Carvajal and Trent Alexander-Arnold, with some local pundits alleging an internal issue as Madrid prepare to host Villarreal.