Trent Alexander-Arnold says there are no flaws in Real Madrid teammate Federico Valverde’s game.
Valverde scored a hat-trick to help Real Madrid beat Manchester City 3-0 in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 on Wednesday night.
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It was only the second time a player had scored a Champions League hat-trick against a Premier League club before half-time. The only other player to achieve this feat before was Lionel Messi, who did it against Arsenal in 2010.
It was also the first treble of Valverde’s career, but Alexander-Arnold has no doubt that the Uruguayan has long been one of the best players in the world.
Speaking about the 27-year-old, he said Valverde is among the “top midfielders in the world” and feels he doesn’t get the recognition he deserves.
“I heaped praises on him a few weeks ago but again I just don’t have the words to describe him,” Alexander-Arnold told CBS Sports.
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“He’s the most underrated football player on the planet and has been for years. Even if I’m not here, I admire his game so much because he doesn’t have any flaws. There’s nothing he can’t do.”
“The energy and contribution he brings to the team is absolutely huge. He never complains, he keeps playing, he pushes himself to the limit, game in, game out. It’s an incredible trait.
“Whether people agree or not, he is absolutely the top midfielder on the planet and has been for many years.”
Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa was also full of praise for Valverde’s performance. He said the vice-captain embodies “everything a Real Madrid player should be”.
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“No matter where you put him, I’m almost tired of talking to him,” Arbeloa told Movistar+.
“He is the Juanito of the 21st century. Valverde is everything a Real Madrid player should be; he deserves a night like this.”