Federico Valverde Childhood Story (What you didn’t know)
Federico Valverde Childhood Story
Federico Santiago Valverde Dipetta was born on July 22, 1998, in Montevideo, Uruguay, to Julio Valverde and Doris Valverde. Known affectionately as Fede, he is the second child of the couple, who raised him in a middle-class home with Catholic Christian values.
His family has roots in Montevideo, a city with a strong Spanish heritage due to its time as part of the former Spanish Empire (1724–1807). Federico did not grow up alone, but alongside his older brother Diego, in a home that initially had no connection to football. From a very young age, he showed great interest in the sport. Even before he was two years old, he insisted that his father install a goalpost in the living room, where he would spend hours kicking a ball around.
Federico’s passion for football was evident from an early age. At just three years old, he was enrolled in the Union Students’ Babies academy in Montevideo, where he began participating in sports activities. Despite his age, he stood out in unofficial games. A remarkable story occurred in one of these games, when Fede scored his first goal and, in celebration, took off his diapers, causing laughter from the audience.
At five years old, despite still being under the minimum age for official competitions, the academy allowed him to play with older children, recognizing his precocious talent.
Federico Valverde’s first steps in football
Federico’s parents always supported his dream of becoming a football player. They faced challenges such as finding the right size football boots for him, which had to be bought at flea markets. Despite this, the boy’s talent soon became apparent, and at the age of five he won his first title in amateur competitions.
In 2008, Federico was called up for trials at Peñarol, one of the most traditional clubs in Uruguay. During the trials, he caught the attention of the coaches, who soon accepted him into the team. This opportunity opened doors for him and, two years later, he was called up to the Uruguayan under-15 team.
In 2015, while still at Peñarol’s youth academy, Federico met his idol, Diego Forlán, who joined the club at the time. Forlán became an inspirational figure for the young athlete, advising him on hard work and humility.
Under this influence, Federico helped Peñarol win the 2015–16 Primera División title. At the age of 17, he caught the attention of major European clubs, resulting in his transfer to Real Madrid.
The story of Federico Valverde at Real Madrid
In July 2016, Valverde transferred from Peñarol to Real Madrid, initially being assigned to the Castilla reserve team . Two months later, he made his debut for Castilla against Real Unión , in a game his team eventually lost. He became a regular member of the Castilla lineup in his debut season, and scored his first goal against Albacete in December 2016.
Regarding his growing importance to the team, Santiago Solari , his coach at Castilla, said on 29 January 2017: “I’m very happy with him. He has adapted very well to the club and the country. Valverde always generates a lot of football in midfield.”
Loan to Deportivo La Coruña
On 22 June 2017, Valverde was loaned to La Liga side Deportivo de La Coruña for a year. He made his debut in the competition on 10 September, replacing Fede Cartabia in a 2–4 home defeat against Real Sociedad . Valverde contributed 24 league appearances during the campaign as the team suffered relegation.
Return to Real Madrid
Upon returning from loan, Valverde impressed new manager Julen Lopetegui during the 2018–19 pre-season and was given a permanent role in the first team. On 23 October 2018, Valverde made his official Real Madrid debut in the UEFA Champions League group stage against Viktoria Plzeň at the Bernabéu at the age of just 20. He went on to make 25 appearances and win the FIFA Club World Cup in his first season with the first team.
The first discovery at Real Madrid
With the return of Zinedine Zidane to the bench and the departure of Marcos Llorente , Valverde excelled and became a key player in the squad during the 2019–20 season. On 9 November 2019, he scored his first goal for Real Madrid, in a 4–0 win over Eibar in La Liga.
On 12 January 2020, Valverde brought down Álvaro Morata during the Supercopa de España final against Atlético Madrid, committing a professional foul and stopping play with Morata clean through on goal. Valverde was sent off, but his actions stopped what was a likely goal, forced a penalty shootout which Real Madrid won, and earned him the Man of the Match award and much praise. Atlético Madrid manager Diego Simeone later referred to the tackle as “the most important play of the game”. He made 33 appearances during the league season as Real Madrid won the 2019–20 La Liga .
On 27 September, Valverde scored Real Madrid’s first goal of the 2020–21 season away against Betis in La Liga in a 3–2 victory and was selected as the “King of the Match”. This was also his 50th La Liga appearance for Los Blancos . A month later, on 24 October, Valverde scored against Barcelona at Camp Nou in just five minutes in a 3–1 league win. He became the second Uruguayan to score in El Clásico (after Luis Suárez ) and the first for Real Madrid. A week later, Valverde scored again, against Huesca , in a 4–1 league win at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano . This was his third goal of the season, meaning he had already scored more than he had in the entire previous campaign.
Contract extensions and Champions League victories
On 24 August 2021, Valverde extended his contract until 2027. On 12 January 2022, he scored Real Madrid’s third goal in a 3–2 win over Barcelona in extra time in the Supercopa de España semi-final , a tournament which Madrid eventually won. On 28 May, he assisted Vinícius Júnior to score the winning goal in a 1–0 win over Liverpool in the 2022 UEFA Champions League Final to secure a record 14th UEFA Champions League title for Real Madrid.
On 14 September 2022, he scored his first Champions League goal in a 2–0 win over RB Leipzig . In the 2022–23 season , he scored 12 goals in all competitions, fulfilling his manager Carlo Ancelotti ‘s pre-season prediction that he would score more than 10 goals. On 9 November 2023, Valverde extended his contract with Real Madrid until 30 June 2029.
On 9 April 2024, he scored a volley for the first time in a 3–3 draw against Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-finals , which eventually earned him the Goal of the Season honour. Following the Champions League final victory , it was announced that he would acquire the number 8 shirt following the retirement of Toni Kroos .
The story of Federico Valverde’s family
Family has always played an important role in Federico’s life. His father, Julio, although busy with work, supported his son behind the scenes, while his mother, Doris, was more directly involved in his career, accompanying him on his move to Spain. Today, his parents live in Montevideo, but visit Federico regularly.
Federico Valverde’s parents
Federico Valverde’s father
Júlio, his father, was always working while his wife took care of his son’s career.
Today, the super dad is proud that his son has become a man and no longer a young man who was often taken to training.
Although not as influential in his career as his wife, Julio is a football-loving father who loves discussing football matters with his son.
The mother of Federico Valverde
When Federico traveled to Europe, his mother unleashed her maternal role, ensuring that she and her husband Julio followed him to Madrid. They all lived in Madrid and she made sure Fede continued to enjoy her delicious dishes.
Doris had a wonderful experience while living in Madrid. She hardly goes to the Bernabéu; instead, she prefers to watch her son at home on television. It was a different experience when she went to the supermarket or the mall.
Doris, while at the grocery store, heard people talking about her son.
Siblings of Federico Valverde
Very little is known about Federico’s brother, who goes by the name Deigo. Although he avoids public attention, it may be that Diego does nothing other than take care of his younger brother’s career.
Federico Valverde’s wife
Federico Valverde is in a relationship with Mina Bonino, an Argentine journalist and TV presenter. Mina is five years older than Federico, but the couple has a solid relationship based on friendship. Despite some teasing and teasing on social media, they share a strong bond and mutual support.
Federico Valverde’s children
Real Madrid midfielder Fede Valvede and his partner, Mina Bonino, welcomed their first child into the world on February 20, 2020.
Bonino was in labor for 14 hours and posted a photo of her, de Valverde and his son on Instagram a few hours later.
Federico Valverde’s personal life
Off the field, Federico is a reserved person who values moments of tranquility, especially by the sea. He avoids conflict and prefers to maintain stable relationships. His choice of an older partner reflects his search for maturity and understanding regarding the demands of his career.
Federico Valverde’s lifestyle
Federico has a balanced lifestyle, spending responsibly and prioritizing his family. Despite his success, he remains humble, driving modest cars and avoiding ostentation.
Untold Facts About Federico Valverde
Health problems: In 2016, he faced breathing and vocal difficulties, which almost compromised his career. With the appropriate treatment, he was able to return to the field.
Contribution to his childhood club: The Union Students’ Babies received financial compensation for Federico’s transfer to Real Madrid, which was used to improve the club’s infrastructure.
Controversy: During the 2017 U-20 World Cup, his celebration after scoring a goal sparked accusations of racism, but Federico explained that it was a tribute to a friend nicknamed “El Chino”.
Overcoming: Despite not being called up for the 2018 World Cup, he learned from the disappointment and grew as a player, consolidating himself in the Uruguayan national team.
