Jesus Vallejo talks Valverde, Carvajal, Bellingham, Ronaldo, Zidane – ‘A true leader’ | OneFootball

Former Real Madrid defender Jesus Vallejo, who recently signed for Albacete on a free transfer, has opened up about his time at Madrid, sharing special memories of his teammates and reflecting on his experiences at the club.

In a candid conversation with The Athletic, Vallejo highlighted Federico Valverde’s evolution into a leader.

He described the Uruguayan as someone with two contrasting personalities quiet and reserved in the dressing room, but a fierce competitor on the pitch.

“Federico Valverde is a leader, a competitor who is very shy in the dressing room but transforms completely on the field.

“He’s the kind of guy who wants to play every single match, runs the furthest for the team, and is always eager to train.

“He even prefers fewer recovery days just to be back on the pitch. His energy is contagious,” Vallejo said.

Speaking of the leaders, he also mentioned Dani Carvajal, stating, “He is the closest person to me in the team. He helped me a lot, he’s a true leader.”

Zidane, Ronaldo, Bellingham, and more

Vallejo also looked back on his first season at Real Madrid, pointing out how Zinedine Zidane gave him confidence, even though injuries hampered his progress.

“My first season with Real Madrid? Zidane gave me a lot of confidence. It’s true that I suffered from injuries, but it was a good season for adapting.”

Jesus Vallejo has left Real Madrid. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)

Speaking about Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure, Vallejo admitted that the Portuguese star left a huge gap, not just in terms of goals but in leadership.

“Cristiano wasn’t just a goalscorer. He was a leader both on and off the pitch. I tried to imitate his daily habits.

“He would arrive early, do light work before training, but then at home, he’d focus on strength training. He knew when to push and when to rest—that’s what made him so professional,” Vallejo revealed.

The former defender also shared a special moment involving Jude Bellingham. When the English midfielder joined Madrid, Vallejo willingly gave him the number 5 shirt, famously worn by Zidane.

“When Madrid told me Jude liked the number 5, I didn’t hesitate. I was happy to give it to him. A minute later, he sent me a long message in English, very heartfelt.

“During pre-season, he personally thanked me again. Jude is mature beyond his years, both on and off the pitch. It made me even happier to hand him the number after getting to know him.”

Vallejo also spoke on his surprising appearance against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg.

“Everything was very fast. I remember warming up on the touchline, where they asked me to play strongly in one-on-one duels.

“Then in the dressing room, I remember the celebration, and the fans’ madness. I’ve played better matches, but that was the most decisive one.

It was clear that we were all important, to one degree or another,” he concluded.