Carlo Ancelotti showered praise on Federico Valverde following his impressive performance against Manchester City, even joking that the midfielder should have had a Brazilian passport to fit perfectly into the squad.
The comment, shared by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, highlighted the admiration the former Real Madrid manager has for the Uruguayan star. Speaking about Valverde’s display, Ancelotti humorously said it was a “shame” the midfielder does not hold a Brazilian passport, .a playful reference to the number of Brazilian players who have thrived under him at Real Madrid.
Despite the light-hearted tone, the Italian tactician made it clear he was not surprised by Valverde’s performance. Ancelotti revealed he had long believed in the midfielder’s attacking potential and even made a personal wager with him three years ago.
According to the coach, he challenged Valverde to score at least 10 goals in a season, joking that he would “revoke his coaching license” if the player failed to achieve the target. Valverde eventually reached that milestone, proving the manager’s faith in his abilities was well placed.