Real Madrid midfielder will start at makeshift position against Leganes – report | OneFootball

Dani Carvajal’s injury earlier this season seriously limited Carlo Ancelotti’s options at right-back with Lucas Vazquez left as the only direct replacement in the squad.

An untimely injury to the stand-in defender against Osasuna, however, deepened the crisis significantly.

The two-week hiatus from club football gave Vazquez time to recover from his setback and he is close to a return. However, he is unlikely to make it in time to face Leganes at the weekend.

Emergency measure ready

As revealed in a recent report by Jonathan Ramos, Federico Valverde will play at right-back for Real Madrid against Leganes on Sunday.

The Uruguayan central midfielder has been spoken of as the manager’s first-choice emergency right-back for a long time now and will thus return to his foreign role this weekend with both starters injured.

Federico Valverde will play as a right-back against Leganes. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Not having Valverde in midfield will undoubtedly be a massive blow for Los Blancos as his work rate and tireless presence has proven to be vital in recent years with many calling him the single most important piece in the team’s midfield.

The manager, however, will look to compensate for his absence by utilising Eduardo Camavinga in his place and also has the likes of Jude Bellingham, Luka Modric and Arda Guler available.

Earlier this week, rumours of Ancelotti testing out young Raul Asencio at right-back floated in the media and it was speculated that the youngster could feature in Vazquez’s place.

Eder Militao’s injury and the manager’s lack of faith in Jesus Vallejo, however, point to him joining Antonio Rudiger in the central defence for his first start of the season.