Mourinho pushes Valverde into attacking right‑back role at Real Madrid

While Federico Valverde once resisted a right‑back role, Jose Mourinho now wants the versatile Real Madrid midfielder to become more incisive in attack from that position, and the player has already scored in each of his last two games.

Federico Valverde was labelled a rebel in the Real Madrid dressing room after his relationship with Xabi Alonso soured. The midfielder openly said he had no desire to play at right‑back.

Mourinho makes Valverde first‑choice right‑back

Under the Portuguese tactician Jose Mourinho, Valverde has been persuaded to become the club’s number‑one right‑back. He has leap‑frogged established right‑backs such as Trent Alexander‑Arnold and Denzel Dumfries in the pecking order. Reportedly, Mourinho repeatedly stresses that Valverde must become more incisive in the final third.

Defensa Central Mourinho has told Valverde he is the best right‑back option and can cause more damage going forward. Valverde has scored in each of his last two games, against Valencia and AEK Athens, the latter while operating in midfield. Mourinho believes the midfielder’s attacking instincts can be unleashed even from a defensive position, aiming for him to become a constant thread in the final third. Against Valencia he recorded two shots, delivered a cross and tried to switch play from advanced areas. Against Villarreal he drifted inside to thread a pass that set up Yan Diomande’s winner, a type of offensive work Mourinho expects more of.

Valverde is finding his feet under Mourinho, and his evolution into a more attacking full‑back could benefit both Real Madrid and his own development. Real Madrid’s possession‑heavy system forces full‑backs to push high, giving Valverde ample licence to express himself. When Arda Guler tucks inside from the flank, the overlapping lane opens for Valverde, while a wide Diomande allows him to underlap and offer support. The tactical fit plays to Valverde’s strengths, making the full‑back role arguably the smartest move for his career. With fierce competition in midfield, securing a regular spot at right‑back offers him a long‑term, guaranteed place in the starting lineup.