Federico Valverde labelled Jose Mourinho as a “special person” as he stressed his desire to ensure the first season of the Real Madrid coach’s second spell in charge is one that results in trophies.
Valverde returned to Madrid’s training base for his first session under Mourinho on Wednesday.
The Madrid captain endured a disappointing World Cup with Uruguay as they crashed out in the group stage, failing to win any of their three games against Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde and eventual champions Spain.
But he is now firmly focused on the goal of adding to his tally of 14 trophies with Madrid, who suffered the rare ignominy of a trophy-less season last term in a tumultuous campaign that saw Valverde injured in a training ground bust-up with Aurelien Tchouameni in its closing stages.
Mourinho’s appointment as the successor to Alvaro Arbeloa raised eyebrows, but Valverde expressed excitement at the chance to play under the man who helped Madrid dethrone Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona in LaLiga in 2011-12.
“I’m really looking forward to learning from him, listening to every piece of advice he offers, and making the most of every second and minute of training I get to share with him and his coaching staff,” Valverde told Real Madrid TV.
“I want to learn and grow as both a person and a footballer. He is a special person I can learn a great deal from. I hope it’s a wonderful season.”
On his captaincy, Valverde added: “I feel a great sense of excitement and honour. Whenever someone on the street or within my circle mentions it, it truly fills me with pride and emotion.
“You reflect on everything that has happened — the good times and the bad — and now the moment has arrived for me to be the first captain. I learned so much from all the team-mates who served as captains here. They always offered incredible support, and I intend to build on that experience to grow alongside the coaching staff.
“This is the year I want to truly enjoy the game and give my absolute all—not just on the pitch, but off it as well—to ensure all my team-mates feel comfortable.
“It’s not just me; the whole team feels it. What we want most is to win trophies this year, to make the Madridistas happy so they can enjoy a season full of silverware and feel proud of us.”
Madrid will play their first unofficial game of Mourinho’s second spell when they face Albacete, who knocked Los Blancos out of the Copa del Rey last season, a week on Friday.
