Real Madrid fans call for Valverde STATUE after red card saves goal before shootout win against bitter rivals Atletico
REAL MADRID fans are demanding a STATUE of Federico Valverde after they clinched the Spanish Super Cup on penalties – minutes after the midfielder’s shocking red-card tackle denied Atletico’s Alvaro Morata a winner.
But Valverde later apologised after he was even named MAN OF THE MATCH – despite scything down goalbound ex-Chelsea striker Morata deep into extra time in a 0-0 draw before Real won the shootout 4-1.
Real supporters swarmed onto social media to hail Valverde’s cynical actions.
Many urged club chiefs to build a sculpture “in front of the Bernabeu” honouring him as “his red card won us the tie”.
And the Uruguay ace even smiled broadly when picking up the trophy and his best-player gong.
Atletico were made to suffer even more as one supporter tweeted: “They got Fede Valverde out of his early shower and handed him the official man of the match trophy in-front of the Atlético players and fans… What a man!”
Some fans saluted Valverde’s overall contribution – as a starlet shining in his biggest game so far.
‘MIGHTY BALLS’
One praised him for having “mighty balls for a 21 year-old. Glad Zidane took a chance on him over Ceballos etc…”
Many also claimed he “sacrificed himself” for the team.
This tweet summed up that verdict “These types of challenges when you trophies. When you take one for the team. Who knows what would have happened. Bravo, Federico Valverde.”
But as Real fans continued to call for a statue of the former former Penarol star, Atletico followers might feel he has carved out a rather different name for himself – in the history of horrible tackles.