Valverde explains why he came off early in Real Madrid's win over Barcelona

A sliding tackle, a twinge in the leg and a decision to come off as a precaution. That's how Federico Valverde's afternoon ended at Camp Nou, the venue where Real Madrid once again got the better of Barcelona, winning 2-1 in matchday 10 of LaLiga 2026/2027. The Uruguayan started at right back and held on until the 62nd minute, when his body told him enough was enough.

It wasn't a decision made lightly. According to the player himself, the conversation about whether he'd continue had started well before that, in the locker room at halftime. "At halftime we talked, the coach asked me if I could keep going, I tried to go a bit longer, but on a slide I made my leg really bothered me, so it was more of a precaution," he told Real Madrid TV just after the final whistle.

The discomfort came on a defensive play, when he went down to win back the ball. That's when he felt the pain that ultimately pulled him off the field early, even though the result was already all but settled in the home side's... well, in Madrid's favor.

Backing from the locker room

Beyond the physical issue, Valverde wanted to highlight the push he got from his teammates to keep playing for as long as he could. And he had no shortage of praise for the group after a collective effort in a Clasico that always carries extra weight.

For me it's very easy to say I keep playing with this kind of teammate, the kind that pushes you to keep giving the best of the team. I'm happy with everyone's effort, it was a point of pride watching everybody run.Federico Valverde

The Uruguayan was particularly pleased with the first half his team put together, one in which he believes Real Madrid was clearly superior to a Barcelona side that managed to raise its level later, in the second half.

More than happy, I'm proud of the team, which works well, everyone knows what they have to do and that's what makes a team, staying united. That was the key: being a team, knowing how to suffer, having the ball, moving it from side to side, attacking the spaces. We were spectacular in the first half and in the second they improved.Federico Valverde

And as he often does, he wrapped up with a line that sums up pretty well how he sees the game: individual matters take a back seat when the result goes your way. "I always say that if the team wins, the badge wins and I sleep happy," he concluded.

For Valverde, this Clasico was number 25 against Barcelona across all competitions, a history in which he has scored three goals and in which the overall balance remains even: twelve wins for Real Madrid, twelve for Barcelona and one draw. His early exit due to discomfort now leaves a question mark over his availability for the upcoming matches, though by his own account, the concern was more precautionary than anything else.