Real Madrid’s midfield powerhouse, Fede Valverde, recently sat down for an unfiltered conversation on the Terapia Picante podcast. Now a captain for both club and country, the “Hawk” reflected on his journey in 2026—a year where he is finding a new gear under Arbeloa’s tactics while preparing for the arrival of his third child with wife Mina Bonino.

However, the path to becoming a Madrid legend wasn’t always smooth. Valverde shared several candid, and sometimes painful, anecdotes from his early days at Valdebebas.

“I Thought They Were Going to Kick Me Out”

Valverde is world-renowned for his “cannon” of a right foot, but that power once caused him a literal nightmare. During a training session, one of his thunderous strikes resulted in a shoulder injury for Luca Zidane—the son of his then-manager, Zinedine Zidane.

“I wanted to die,” Valverde admitted. “I thought they were going to kick me out because I injured Zidane’s son. Some goalkeepers have had dislocations from my shots. I have very skinny legs; I don’t know where I get so much power from!”

The Struggle with Imposter Syndrome

The Uruguayan also touched on the “reality check” of moving from Peñarol to Real Madrid Castilla. Despite already being a first-division player in Uruguay, the wealth gap in Madrid’s dressing room left him feeling out of place.

He recalled being embarrassed by his modest car and unbranded clothing:

  • The Parking Lot: “My teammates had very good cars, and I barely had one.”
  • The Dressing Room: “I started to see very expensive clothing brands. I didn’t want to take my clothes off… I did it very quickly so they wouldn’t see me.”

Overcoming the “Mickey Mouse” Viral Video

Valverde addressed a viral video from his teenage years at Peñarol where his high-pitched voice led to cruel social media comparisons to Mickey Mouse. While he laughs about it now, he revealed the humble and difficult truth behind it.

“We were a humble family and did not have the money for an operation,” he explained, noting that he had a throat condition that required surgery. The bullying he faced made him shy away from speaking in groups for years. “It’s funny today, but at that moment, I was a child and I suffered.”

That Foul on Morata

Finally, Valverde revisited the infamous tactical foul on Alvaro Morata in the Super Cup. While some criticized the “grit” as too aggressive, Fede stands by his commitment to the crest.

“It’s not an image for children, but I felt I had to play for the team,” he said. “I knew I was going to be sent off, but I just thought Real Madrid had to win. We South Americans are hot-blooded.”

From a self-conscious “Little Bird” to the fearless “Hawk,” Valverde’s journey remains an inspiration for every Madridista.