At tonight’s premiere of El Matador, a film about MMA fighter Ilia Topuria, Real Madrid star Fede Valverde made an appearance on the red carpet in Madrid. The Uruguayan midfielder expressed his excitement to be part of the event, saying, “It’s a great joy for my wife and me to be here.”
Valverde shared his admiration for Topuria, noting how much the fighter’s mentality resonates with him. “I’m a big fan of MMA, and Topuria has taught me a lot about fighting and having that hunger to win—something he constantly displays.”
Turning his attention to Real Madrid’s 3-1 Champions League victory over Stuttgart the night before, Valverde admitted it had been a tough match. “We suffered a lot. These games can seem straightforward, but without Courtois, it would have been a different story.” Valverde also credited the Belgian goalkeeper for his vital role in their Champions League triumph in Paris, adding, “If Thibaut hadn’t been in goal, we wouldn’t have won that final.”
The midfielder was also asked about Endrick’s goal off the bench.
“If Endrick hadn’t scored that goal, I think I would’ve had a word with him in the dressing room,” Valverde said humourously. “But he showed the hunger and desire to succeed at this club. He has limited minutes, but he always proves he’s capable of big things, and I’m really happy for him.”