Federico Valverde has been one of the standout figures for Real Madrid in the tie against Manchester City.

In the first leg, his hat-trick gave Álvaro Arbeloa’s side a commanding advantage, while in Manchester he showcased his defensive discipline and attacking support to help seal qualification for the Champions League quarterfinals.

Praise has now come from Clarence Seedorf, a respected voice in football who previously worked with Valverde during his time at Deportivo. Speaking to Amazon Prime Sport, Seedorf revealed he recognized the midfielder’s talent almost instantly:

“When I arrived at Deportivo, Valverde was already there. I didn’t know who he was, but after 10 minutes of the first training session, I told my assistant to put him in the starting XI. I knew I was going to play with him and 10 others.”

The Dutch legend also highlighted how early signs of greatness were already evident: “You could already see the quality he had and how far he could go. He wasn’t at the level he is now, but you could see his potential. I’m very proud of him.”

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