Overview

• Federico Valverde posted on X that he never refused to play and stressed his commitment after not featuring against Kairat Almaty.
• The midfielder had said before the match that he was not born to play right‑back, a position he filled frequently last season.
• Observers noted he skipped the substitutes’ rondo and warmed up apart from teammates, which fueled media and fan scrutiny.
• Xabi Alonso said the benching was already decided and called Valverde a willing, generous player, with Raúl Asencio starting at right‑back.
• Club sources frame the episode as a short‑term dip, with Valverde under contract until 2029, and the Villarreal match expected to inform reading of his role.