Uruguayan midfielder Federico Valverde has shared his excitement ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, expressing both pride and responsibility in representing his country.

Speaking from the national team camp, the Real Madrid star reflected on his form in Europe: "I’m proud of what I’m achieving at Real Madrid, happy with the moment I’m living, enjoying every minute I get to wear the Madrid shirt."

Valverde also emphasized the importance of playing for Uruguay: "For me, it’s a huge reward to have the opportunity to qualify for another World Cup, to do it with our people, close to our families, in our country."

He also joked about his new club coach, Xabi Alonso: "I think he could play with us if he wanted to. He’s a different kind of coach; I try to get the most out of him, just like I do with Bielsa when I come to Uruguay. They are unique coaches, and you try to learn from every training session and every piece of advice they give you."

Finally, Valverde responded to the praise he has received from past and present coaches such as Carlo Ancelotti, Xabi Alonso, and Marcelo Bielsa: "It fills me with pride. It pushes me to keep improving and growing. I never imagined being where I am today. You work hard, you dream about it, sometimes it feels impossible. But hearing those coaches speak highly of me motivates me to keep growing as both a player and a person."

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