How good has Federico Valverde been this year?

Very good if you ask me, he has been Real Madrid's most versatile player and he has done well in every position he played whether it is right-back, rightwing-back, number 6, number 8, and right winger. Many positions and he has done well in all of them. And that is my problem with Valverde.

Putting in mind the difference in quality, Loftus-Cheek, Maitland-Niles, and Federico Valverde have basically the same problem. It's not a problem that is apparent now in Valverde's case but all it takes is their system changing for the problem to show its ugly side. I call this

The Sergi Roberto syndrome

To those unaware, Sergi Roberto was a La Masia product midfielder. He joined Barcelona's first team in 2010 and had great moments in the club since. He even had decisive moments in a few Classico matches, not to mention being the scorer of the last goal against Paris Saint-Germain in Barcelona's famous 6-1 comeback.

Now, Sergi Roberto's story took a drastic turn ever since as he slowly but surely became the player who only exists for the paycheck and only plays when the first and second option of any position isn't available, of course, if he wasn't injured.

But, Sergi Roberto was once a hot prospect that was able to play in 8 out of the 11 positions on the Barcelona team (all except for goalkeeper, center-back, and striker). The moments I mentioned had Sergi Roberto play a big part in a Barcelona win from different parts of the pitch.

So, where's the issue?

The issue is when it came to picking the preferred starting squad without injuries, he was never in it. And that is what I call the Sergi Roberto syndrome.

Chelsea's Loftus-Cheek, Arsenal's loanee Maitland-Niles, and of course, Federico Valverde, all have similar issues to what Sergi Roberto had as the players are capable of doing almost everything, but they're not the best at doing anything.

We don't need to look far from Real Madrid to see examples of such players as Nacho Fernández and Lucas Vásquez are live examples as they both were prone to losing their positions even during times when they were the only options. Nacho was the defense joker, able to play center-back, left-back, and right-back, yet if Varane, Ramos, Carvajal, and Marcelo/Mendy were healthy, he'd play none of them. Vásquez is an even clearer example as he literally lost his position to the midfielder Valverde himself.

Let's assume you're trying to fill up a position in your team from Real Madrid, who'd you take as a right-winger Rodrygo or Valverde? Who'd be your number 8, Modric or Valverde? Who'd you take as a number 6 Tchouaméni or Valverde? And who'd be your right-back, Carvajal or Valverde? Hell, you might even take Vásquez as a right-back ahead of Valverde.

Admittedly you might have picked Valverde over Modric for the longevity. But if age wasn't an issue would Valverde be your first pick for anything? The issue that represents is a lack of mastery of any position. Valverde is a very good, physical, fast, and agile player but as a midfielder, he still lacks some of the basics, like shoulder check which is an essential quality in top midfielders.

Peers comparisons

Valverde's age group is that of Frenkie De Jong, Kessie, Kimmich, Bruno Guimarães, Denzel Dumfries, Federico Chiesa, and many more. Yes, he is more versatile than all, but they all surpass him in terms of their specific position and roles. In the end, you can't play more than one position and role.

Even if the difference isn't massive now, and even if we could agree that Valverde is just as good as any of the mentioned names, or even if we say he is better, as time goes by the other players will have more experience to master their role while Valverde is playing a position filler meaning that at some point, he will be left behind knowing a lot about all the different positions but never enough.

Federico Valverde has the potential to be a monster in midfield, a potential to be the undebateably best in the midfield. But, that only comes by playing in the midfield consistently. Maybe he'd be the best winger, but he needs to play there consistently. Maybe, he could be the next Cafu, but again, he needs to play there consistently.

Currently, he is not and he lacks some of the basics in all of those positions. And soon, his age is going to reflect that lack of basics as you see players of his age group growing more and more into their positions and roles as Valverde plays a fireman to all the fires in different positions in Real Madrid. That alone could turn any advantage into a disadvantage.

In conclusion

Around 24-25 years, you're supposed to know what you are as a player. Otherwise, you're the Adam Lallana of a Liverpool side, the Loftus-Cheek of Chelsea, the Maitland-Niles of Arsenal, and of course, the Sergi Roberto of Barcelona.

Valverde already doesn't have the creativity of Kimich and De Jong in midfield, the physical presence of Kessie, the runs of Dumfries, and the skills of Federico Chiesa, but it is less noticeable now as Real Madrid play the only style when he is that valuable of a player as well as the fact that Real Madrid just seem to be an exception to any rules at the moment as their edge is more psychological than it is tactical.

Federico Valverde's case is unique for me as he is an amazing talent but could his versatile talent end up costing him? Only time will tell.