Atlético mocks Real Madrid while celebrating Valverde's recovery
Three weeks after the Madrid derby, Atlético Madrid posted on X an ironic statement targeting Real Madrid, highlighting the unexpected return of the injured Federico Valverde, who is already in the squad for the match against Villarreal this Saturday.
A sarcastic message on X
More than three weeks after the Madrid derby won by the Colchoneros, the club teased the Merengues by stating: “We would like to congratulate Real Madrid for writing history by proving that 100 % of the global medical community was wrong.” The message was accompanied by the hashtags #MiraculousRecovery and #MedicalReport, underscoring the mocking tone. This post quickly generated many shares and comments on the social network X.
Injury and selection against Villarreal
Federico Valverde left the Riyadh Air Metropolitano pitch after a violent foul by Kang‑in Lee, suffering a grade‑3 sprain of his left tibia, according to Real Madrid’s statement. This injury normally entails an absence of six to twelve weeks, but the player returned to training on Friday, eighteen days after the incident. The Madrid club indicated that the medical re‑assessment already allowed him to be considered fit to play.
The derby and Mourinho’s criticisms
On September 20, the Colchoneros had beaten Real Madrid 2‑1 in the derby. José Mourinho, then Real’s coach, had criticised the refereeing, stating that two fouls deserved red cards and reminding that his team had played ten‑against‑eleven for fifty minutes before returning to nine‑against‑eleven. He also said that referee Miguel Ángel Ortiz Arias’s decision, which did not sanction the foul, was “very strange.”
Valverde missed the international break with Uruguay, but he was recalled for Villarreal’s visit to the Bernabéu, scheduled for 9 p.m. this Saturday. His availability, announced only nineteen days after the incident, fed Atlético’s mockery. Real Madrid, however, insisted on the seriousness of the injury, reminding of the risks of a too‑early return.
In response, the Colchoneros club shared a three‑minute video showing clips from 2019 where Cholo Simeone and director Miguel Ángel Gil Marín criticised refereeing decisions in Real’s favour. The club concluded: “Stop refereeing harassment,” recalling the ongoing tensions between the two capitals. This initiative aimed to highlight what Atlético sees as a recurring injustice.
Real Madrid replied by publishing its own clip, highlighting statements from its coach and its director, while mocking its rival’s accusations. The response was accompanied by a message that caught the attention of supporters of both teams. The exchanges on social media revived the already intense rivalry between the two clubs.
Thus, despite the announced severity of his sprain, Federico Valverde is expected to feature for Atlético against Villarreal, giving supporters a new topic of debate before kickoff. The match, which will be played at the Bernabéu, will be closely watched by both camps, each hoping to prove the superiority of their approach.