Real Madrid star needed 'injection and needles' to face Man City | OneFootball

Federico Valverde played through the pain barrier to help Real Madrid humble Manchester City in the Champions League in midweek.

Valverde captained Madrid to a statement 3-1 win on Wednesday night, which equated to a comprehensive 6-3 aggregate victory overall. The reigning champions, have knocked out one of their main rivals for the trophy, with Carlo Ancelotti predicting beforehand that the tie would produce the eventual winners, as it has done in each of the last three seasons.

Madrid were patched up defensively and Valverde continued his run at right-back, highlighting impressive versatility and a completeness to his game.

But it wasn't clear cut that he would even be able to play. AS notes now in the aftermath that the Uruguay international was absent from training on Monday in the build-up and received a painkiller injection in his upper thigh before the game in order to take to the pitch.

It has also been reported that he took an injection once the final whistle had blown.

Valverde gave it everything / Clive Brunskill/GettyImages

For Valverde then to be one of the best players in a game where the obvious plaudits went to hat-trick hero Kylian Mbappe and Madrid's plethora of attacking stars speaks volumes.

The plan for Valverde, who has been at the club since leaving Uruguayan giants Penarol aged 18, is to get him back into midfield as soon as possible so that his presence is not missed in a more influential part of the pitch.

"He is happy to play there, but it was an emergency. When Lucas Vazquez returns, we will have both options," Ancelotti commented after Wednesday's game, making clear his intentions moving forward.

Usual right-back Dani Carvajal could be back from a long-term knee injury for the start of next season, by which time Madrid might also have brought in Trent Alexander-Arnold on a free transfer.