Federico Valverde had long been a cornerstone of Real Madrid's setup under Carlo Ancelotti, blending tactical importance with a physical resilience that seemed unbreakable.
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti faced the press ahead of their clash with Real Betis, and it was Federico Valverde who stole the early headlines.
Real Madrid returned to training on Thursday following their victory over Real Sociedad, and the big news is the return of Kylian Mbappe to the squad.
Vinicius Junior beamed with pride after captaining Real Madrid to a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg.
Carlo Ancelotti responded to Javier Tebas on Tuesday, criticizing the La Liga president for "talking about Real Madrid too much" and accusing him of showing a "lack of respect" after Tebas claimed the club was "crying" about referee decisions.
Real Madrid secured a 2-0 victory over Girona, with Luka Modric and Vinicius Junior delivering the decisive blows in a match that showcased their quality and reignited Los Blancos' La Liga title charge.