Federico Valverde has taken on the coveted number 8 shirt at Real Madrid this summer, a number worn by Toni Kroos for many years. The decision was not an easy one for the 26-year-old Uruguayan.
“Deep down, I wanted this number more than anything else. But I was worried I wouldn’t be up to the task,” Valverde told France Football. “In the end, my wife told me: ‘You must take what you deserve. If the club offers you its number, you cannot refuse it.’ I had a lot of doubts and concerns.
Kroos played for Real Madrid from 2014 to 2024, winning the Champions League five times during his tenure. He retired from professional football after the home European Championship. Valverde joined Real in 2016 and spent eight years playing alongside Kroos before now assuming his number.
“We are talking about a player who has shaped the history of this club and football in general,” Valverde said. “As a fan, I felt nothing but admiration for him, for his technical and tactical abilities. He was a guy who stood close to young players to give them advice and offer help. He was always filled with good intentions. To be honest, even a single minute with players of that class would have made me happy.
Kroos recently mentioned in his podcast ‘Einfach mal Luppen’ that he recommended to Real president Florentino Pérez to pass the number 8 on to Valverde. The 34-year-old is aware that Valverde will “wear the number with pride.” He expressed his pleasure, saying, “I’m glad that a worthy successor has been found in Fede, and I don’t have to feel regret when the number 8 runs across the pitch. Instead, I think: ‘Okay, cool, I like that.'”
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