"The Most Underrated Player on the Planet" Arnold was also surprised → No disadvantage in Valverde's 'crazy' hat trick"

*This content was translated by AI.

Federico Valverde (28, Real Madrid) received rave reviews from his teammates and coaches.

Real Madrid (Spain) won 3-0 with Valverde's performance in the first leg of the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) against Manchester City (Man City, England) at Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid, Spain on the 12th (Korea time).

Real, which boasts the most wins (15 times) in UCL history, has advanced to the quarterfinals for six consecutive years. On the other hand, Manchester City, which reached the UCL round of 16 for the first time in two years, was on the verge of elimination.

Valverde stepped up as a troubleshooter, with key players such as Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham out due to injuries.

Valverde, who received a long poked ball by goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in the 20th minute of the first half, quickly broke down the right side and scored the first winning goal with a sharp right foot shot.

Just seven minutes later, Valverde shook the net again with a sharp left-footed shot from the left side of the penalty box.

The sense of goal at its peak led to a hat trick. In the 42nd minute of the first half, Valverde flooded as Brahim Díaz's catch off guard headed to the center of the penalty area. Valverde, who cut the goal with a calm right-footed finish in the face of the goalkeeper, completed a hat trick even before the first half was over.

According to ESPN, which specializes in global sports, teammate Trent Alexander Arnold expressed trust in Valverde. "Valverde is the most underrated footballer on the planet, and he has been for many years," he said. "I really respected his play even before I came here. There are no shortcomings in his play, and there is nothing he can't do."

He said, "The energy and contribution he brings to the team is enormous. He has an incredible quality that never complains and pushes his limits every game. "Whether people agree or not, he has certainly been in the ranks of the best midfield players in the world for many years," he added.

Valverde, who played right fullback under his predecessor Xavi Alonso, has returned to his original midfielder position since Arbeloa's appointment and has been active.

"It doesn't matter where you put Valverde," Arbeloa said. To me, he is the ' Juanito (Legend of Real)' of the 21st century and the reference point of the spirit of Madrid. With everything a Madrid player should have, he deserves a night like this, and he will certainly never forget it."

On his role as right winger Valverde, he said: "We wanted Fede to be more aggressive in attacking Manchester City's defence. "He put in a lot of effort, helped Trent in defense, and scored up to three goals," he explained.

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*This content was translated by AI.